holiday blondies

the goods:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (or melted), plus more for pan
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup m&m's (red and blue for 4th of July, orange and brown for Halloween, green and red for Christmas, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-inch square baking pan with butter; line pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Butter paper.



In a large bowl, whisk together butter and sugars until smooth. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and salt; stir just until moistened.



Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth top.



Arrange candies in rows (2 rows per color) on top of dough.



Bake until top of cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.



Set pan on a wire rack to let cool completely. Using parchment overhang, lift cake from pan and transfer to a cutting board, cut into squares.