Apple blondies put a perfect-for-fall spin on an indulgent dessert. Sweet, tangy apples pair with classic spices for a warm baked treat ready to enjoy with your favorite coffee.
Fall is in the air, and it’s time to turn on the ovens and pull out all those recipes we’ve been wanting to bake. Apples are a classic autumn fruit, and this apple blondies recipe adds the flavor of apple pie with a rich, chewy bar. Serve it as is or topped with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!
For more apple desserts, try this popular Apple Dump Cake. Or for another fall favorite that I can’t get enough of, Pumpkin Cupcakes are a must!
Simple and Delicious Apple Blondies Recipe
Blondies—and Blonde Brownies—are soft and chewy treats similar to brownies, but in this recipe, apples and warm spices take the place of gooey chocolate. The name “blondie” comes from the light brown color. The buttery flavor of these bars is rich and comforting, like a favorite sweater on a chilly day.
Serve these yummy apple blondies as a weekend celebration after dinner with the family. Or, cover them up, and take them with you to a friend’s house for coffee and conversation. No one will be able to pass these up!
Ingredients
- Gala apple – You can use any baking apples for this recipe. I recommend sweet apples like Gala or Honeycrisp, but Granny Smith apples work well, too.
- Ground cinnamon – Mix half with your apple mixture, and whisk the rest in a bowl with the flour
- Nutmeg – Adds classic apple pie flavor
- Lemon juice – Fresh or bottled, whatever you have
- Sugar – We use both white and light brown sugar in this recipe
- Flour
- Salt
- Unsalted butter – If you only have salted butter, leave out the additional salt
- Egg
- Vanilla – For the best flavor, use high-quality vanilla extract
- Crushed pecans – Optional, but delicious!
Variations
- Flour – You can also use gluten-free flour if you prefer. The texture will be a little different, and you may need an extra egg, but it will still taste great.
- Spices – You can use apple pie spice or pumpkin spice instead of nutmeg.
- Fruit – Try using peaches or pears instead of apples for a fruity twist.
How To Make Apple Blondies
- Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, line a baking dish with parchment paper, and set it aside.
- Toss the apples: Core, peel, and chop the apples into small pieces. Then, toss them with cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and sugar.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cinnamon.
- Cream the wet ingredients: In a third bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the brown sugar, regular sugar, and melted butter. Then, stir in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Combine: Working slowly, add small amounts of the flour mixture to the bowl of wet ingredients. Stir to combine, and repeat until the dry mixture is completely incorporated. Then, fold in the apples and pecans.
- Bake: Transfer the blondie batter to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Bake until the center is set and the edges are golden brown.
Quick Tip
Creaming the butter and sugar works best when the butter is at room temperature. So, take it out of the fridge an hour or so before you plan to assemble the blondies. If you forget, 15-20 seconds in the microwave should do the trick. It should be soft but not melty.
Serving Suggestions
Of course, these cinnamon apple blondies are incredible on their own. However, I love to serve them topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce! You can also never go wrong with a dollop of whipped cream.
Storage + Freezing
- Store leftover blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze your apple blondies for up to 3 months. To do so, wrap them individually with plastic wrap, and transfer them to a sealable bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Serve your blondies cold, at room temperature, or warm them in the microwave for just a few seconds!
FAQS
Brownies have cocoa powder, and blondies don’t. Both have a rich, soft, and chewy texture. However, blondies usually have more of a butterscotch or molasses flavor and a lighter color due to the brown sugar and the absence of chocolate.
Like brownies, blondies harden when they are overbaked. In order to achieve the soft, chewiness you want in a blondie, take them out of the oven when they are still soft and slightly underdone in the middle. They will set as they cool.
Overmixing incorporates too much air into the batter and will make the blondies fluffier, more like cake. Adding too much liquid, melting the butter, or replacing eggs with bananas will also give the blondies a lighter cakelike texture.
More Delicious Apple Recipes
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The Easiest Apple Crisp Recipe
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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookie Bar
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Apple Dump Cake
Quick & Easy Desserts
Easy Apple Crumble
Breakfast
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Quick & Easy Desserts
Apple Turnovers
Apple Blondies
Equipment
- 1 13×9 Baking Dish
- 3 Mixing bowls
- 1 Hand mixer
Ingredients
- 1 large gala apple
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup + 1 Tablespoon unsalted sweet cream butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup crushed pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 13×9 baking dish with parchment paper
- Core, peel, and chop the apple into small pieces.1 large gala apple
- Add the chopped apple pieces in a bowl with cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and sugar. Toss well. Set aside.½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon sugar
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cinnamon1 cup flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- In a large bowl, cream together with a hand mixer – brown sugar, sugar, and melted butter½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup sugar, ⅓ cup + 1 Tablespoon unsalted sweet cream butter, melted
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract. Mix well to blend.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Slowly add in small amounts of the flour mixture. Mix after each addition until completely blended in.
- Gently fold in the apples and crushed pecans in to the batter.½ cup crushed pecans
- Add to the prepared dish and spread evenly
- Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes
- When done, remove from the oven and set aside in the baking dish for at least 40 minutes.
Notes
- Store leftover blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze your apple blondies for up to 3 months. To do so, wrap them individually with plastic wrap, and transfer them to a sealable bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Serve your blondies cold, at room temperature, or warm them in the microwave for just a few seconds!
Nutrition
Share With Us!
I hope you enjoy these Apple Blondies! If you give it a try, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @allthingsmamma and use the hashtag #allthingsmamma.
