Description
Soft, chewy cinnamon blondies topped with caramelized apples and finished with a rich cream cheese frosting infused with maple syrup—a decadent dessert that tastes like fall in every bite.
Ingredients
1 cup browned butter
1⅔ cups brown sugar
2 large eggs
1½ tsp vanilla extract
2⅓ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2 cups peeled and chopped apples
1 tbsp butter
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup powdered sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk browned butter and brown sugar until well combined.
- Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add apples and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and caramelized.
- Spread blondie batter evenly in the prepared pan.
- Spoon caramelized apples over the top.
- Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow blondies to cool completely in the pan.
- Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup, beating until light and fluffy.
- Spread frosting evenly over cooled blondies. Cut into bars and enjoy.
Notes
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts on top for crunch.
- Swap maple syrup with honey for a lighter sweetness.
- Use pears instead of apples for a different seasonal flavor.
- Stir white chocolate chips into the blondie batter for extra indulgence.
- Replace frosting with a drizzle of caramel sauce for a quicker finish.
- Add a pinch of cardamom or allspice to the blondie batter for a spicier kick.
- Make mini blondies in a muffin tin—reduce baking time to 18–22 minutes.
- Use browned butter in the frosting for a nutty flavor boost.
- Dust frosted blondies with cinnamon sugar before serving.
- Layer frosting with an extra drizzle of maple glaze for a show-stopping presentation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
