Sweet Apple Blondies with Maple Frosting deliver deliciously satisfying fall flavors in this easy, comforting recipe.
These Apple Blondies with Maple Frosting have me sneaking into the kitchen for a sweet snack at all hours of the day.
This perfect fall treat features sweet apples mixed up in a brown sugar-maple syrup batter. Chock full of apples and cinnamon, these blondies have an almost cake-like texture, so it felt only right to add some maple frosting on top.
The maple frosting, while not strictly necessary, adds a creamy-smooth sweetness to these flavorful bars.
Start with the Apples
This recipe calls for just one large apple, which means minimal peeling and chopping.
Sautéing the diced apple with maple syrup and cinnamon before mixing it into the batter ensures a tender apple texture in the finished blondies. Crisp apples take lots of time to soften as they bake, so this head start makes a huge difference since this recipe only bakes for about 25 minutes!
Prepare the Pan
Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan and then line it with an 8-inch wide piece of parchment paper that extends up and over two sides of the pan.
The flaps of parchment paper work like handles for lifting the baked blondies out of the pan easily.
Removing the blondies from the pan makes them so much easier to frost and cut into tidy squares.
Prepare the Batter
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside.
If, like me, you forget to take the butter out to soften, give it a few five-second bursts in the microwave, turning it each time.
I combine the remaining ingredients in my standing electric mixer, but you can mix them by hand as well. If you mix by hand, give the butter a little more softening time in the microwave to make it easier to incorporate.
Beat the butter, sweeteners, egg, and vanilla until well combined. It will look a bit separated, which is fine.
Before adding the dry ingredients to the wet, toss the prepared apples in the flour to coat the fruit. By hand, stir in half of the flour mixture until just combined. Add the remaining flour and mix to combine.
Transfer the thick batter to the prepared pan and spread it evenly to the edges and smooth the top as best as you can.
Baking Apple Blondies
Bake the blondies in an oven preheated to 350° F until pale golden brown and just firm to touch. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
Frosting the Blondies
Once the blondies are cool, prepare the frosting by beating butter, confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, and salt in a standing electric mixer. You can also do this by hand if you like.
Using the parchment paper handles, remove the blondies from the pan.
Transfer the the maple frosting to the blondies and spread it evenly to the edges with an offset spatula.
Apple Blondie Serving Ideas
I like to sprinkle cinnamon over the top of the frosting, but you could also add chopped nuts or thin apple slices.
If using apple slices, wait until right before serving to top the blondies for a fresher look since apples tend to brown once sliced.
With a sharp knife, cut the blondies into 2-inch squares, wiping the blade between slices to keep the edges neat and tidy.
For something different, load up large, unfrosted blondie squares with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. With a drizzle of warm maple syrup or caramel sauce, you’ve got yourself a decadent Apple Blondie Ice Cream Sundae!
These Apple Blondies with Maple Frosting are a new favorite at my house. They never last long, so I’m clearly not the only one sneaking into the kitchen to eat them.
Apple Blondies with Maple Frosting
Ingredients
Apples
- 1 large apple peeled, cored, and finely diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Blondies
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened but still cool
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Maple Frosting
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened but still cool
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- ground cinnamon for sprinkling
Instructions
Apples
- Combine the apples with maple syrup and cinnamon in a medium skillet.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the apples have softened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Blondies
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter an 8-inch square pan. Add a layer of parchment paper to the pan, leaving the edges long enough to lift the blondies out of the pan once cool for easier slicing. Butter the parchment paper, pressing it to adhere smoothly to the pan.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup until well combined. Mix in egg and vanilla extract.
- Toss apple mixture in with the dry ingredients.
- Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet and mix by hand until just combined. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Transfer the thick batter to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly to the edges.
- Bake in preheated oven until pale golden brown and set in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
Maple Frosting
- Beat the butter in the bowl of a standing electric mixer until light and creamy. Add confectioners' sugar, maple syrup, and salt. Mix slowly with the paddle attachment to combine, and then increase speed to medium-high and beat until well combined. Add additional powdered sugar or maple syrup, as needed, to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
Assembly
- Remove the cooled blondies from the pan and top with frosting, spreading it evenly to the edges. Sprinkle ground cinnamon over the top, if desired.
- Slice in 2-inch squares with a sharp knife, wiping the blade between slices to keep the edges of the blondies looking neat and tidy.
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