Ingredients

9 tablespoons (1 1/8 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan 

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

3/4 teaspoon coarse salt 

1 cup packed light-brown sugar 

2 large eggs 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

3/4 cup coarsely chopped dried pears (4 ounces) 

3/4 cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped (3 1/4 ounces) 

1/4 cup coarsely chopped candied ginger (1 1/4 ounces) 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan or a round cake pan. Line with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over sides. Butter parchment; set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; mix until combined. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture until combined. Mix in pears, pistachios, and candied ginger.

Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Lift blondie out of pan; transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely; cut into wedges.