Brown Butter Apple Blondies
If you’re looking for the ultimate fall dessert, these brown butter apple blondies are about to become your new favorite. Imagine a chewy, buttery blondie filled with warm cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a sweet cinnamon glaze. They’re cozy, rich, and bursting with seasonal flavor—perfect for apple season, Thanksgiving dessert tables, or just a crisp autumn afternoon with a cup of coffee.
Why You’ll Love These Brown Butter Apple Blondies
Blondies are the underrated sibling of brownies—rich, chewy, and packed with caramel-like flavor thanks to brown sugar. When you add nutty brown butter and tender cinnamon apples, the result is a dessert that tastes like fall in every bite. The drizzle of cinnamon glaze takes them over the top, adding just the right amount of sweetness to balance the warm spices.
These bars are:
Chewy and soft with a caramel-like flavor from brown sugar.
Spiced perfectly with cinnamon, nutmeg, and warm browned butter.
Easy to make—no mixer required!
Perfect for sharing at potlucks, bake sales, or family gatherings.
Ingredients:
Butter
Brown sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
All purpose flour
Baking powder
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Salt
Diced apple
Substitution Ideas
One of the best things about blondies is how versatile they are! Here are some simple substitutions and variations you can try:
Butter: If you don’t want to brown the butter, you can use melted butter instead. You’ll lose some of the nutty depth of flavor, but the blondies will still be delicious.
Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar gives a deeper caramel flavor, while light brown sugar keeps things milder. You can even use a mix of both.
Apples: Swap the apples for pears for a softer, sweeter flavor. Firm varieties like Bosc work best.
Spices: Feel free to play with spices—cardamom, allspice, or even pumpkin pie spice can be added for a seasonal twist.
Mix-ins: Stir in a handful of chopped pecans, walnuts, or white chocolate chips for added texture and flavor.
Glaze: Instead of the cinnamon glaze, try a simple caramel drizzle, maple glaze, or a cream cheese frosting for extra richness.
Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make these blondies suitable for gluten-free diets.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything required to whip up a batch of these cozy blondies:
For the blondies:
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup diced apple (peeled if desired)
For the glaze:
½ cup powdered sugar
1–2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Recipe:
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup diced apple (peeled if desired)
For the glaze:
½ cup powdered sugar
1–2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
1. Brown the Butter
Place the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter melts and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly before mixing into the batter.
2. Make the Blondie Batter
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the browned butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.
Stir in the diced apple. The batter will be thick and full of apple pieces—that’s what makes it so good!
3. Bake the Blondies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the batter evenly into the pan.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
4. Make the Cinnamon Glaze
While the blondies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon until smooth. You want the glaze to be pourable but not too thin. Adjust the consistency with a little extra powdered sugar or milk if needed.
5. Glaze and Serve
Once the blondies are completely cool, drizzle the cinnamon glaze over the top. Slice into squares and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Apple Blondies
Use firm apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith for the best texture. Softer apples may get mushy when baked.
Don’t overbake—these blondies should stay soft and chewy. Pull them out when the center still looks slightly underdone; they’ll continue to set as they cool.
Enhance the flavor with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top before glazing.
How to Store Brown Butter Apple Blondies
These blondies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them (without glaze) for up to 2 months, then glaze after thawing.
A Must-Bake Fall Dessert
Whether you’re baking for a cozy night in, prepping dessert for a holiday gathering, or just looking to use up those freshly picked apples, these brown butter apple blondies with cinnamon glaze are the perfect treat. They’re sweet, chewy, and spiced to perfection—basically everything you love about fall wrapped into one easy dessert bar.
