These cinnamon apple blondies are a delightful twist on a classic dessert bar, featuring tender chunks of apple and warm spices baked into a chewy, buttery blondie base. They offer a perfect balance of sweet, spiced, and fruity flavors, making them an ideal treat for any occasion, especially during the fall baking season.
What are Cinnamon Apple Blondies?
Imagine the comforting flavors of apple pie and a rich, chewy blondie coming together in one perfect bar. That’s exactly what you get with these cinnamon apple blondies, a truly decadent dessert that’s surprisingly simple to make. They are a wonderful way to enjoy the taste of autumn in a delicious, portable treat, perfect for sharing or savoring on your own.
This recipe elevates the humble blondie by infusing it with the warm, aromatic essence of cinnamon and sweet, tender apple pieces. Unlike brownies, which rely on chocolate, blondies get their rich flavor from brown sugar and vanilla, creating a wonderfully chewy texture that pairs beautifully with the soft apple chunks. For more insights into the delightful world of blondie recipes, check out this guide on blondie recipes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering your ingredients is the first delicious step toward making these wonderful apple blondies. Using good quality ingredients will make a noticeable difference in the final flavor and texture of your baked apple dessert. We’ll focus on pantry staples and fresh apples to create these irresistible fall blondies.
Don’t miss out on our guide to How To Fold Ingredients Without Deflating.
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 227g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups (300g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional, but recommended for extra spice)
- 2 medium apples (about 1 ½ cups chopped), peeled, cored, and diced into ½-inch pieces (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala work well)
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for added crunch)
How to Make Cinnamon Apple Blondies
This section will guide you through creating your very own batch of these delightful spiced apple blondies. We’ll break down each step to ensure your homemade apple blondies turn out perfectly chewy and flavorful every time.
Prepare Your Baking Pan and Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This overhang will make it easy to lift the blondies out of the pan once they’re baked. Properly preparing your pan is a crucial first step for any successful baking endeavor, ensuring your treats don’t stick.
Combine Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and packed light brown sugar until well combined. Then, whisk in the room temperature eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Ensure the eggs are fully incorporated before adding the next to create a smooth, emulsified base for your blondies.
If you enjoyed this, you might also love our Salted Caramel Apple Blondies recipe.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg (if using). Whisking the dry ingredients together before adding them to the wet ingredients helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices, preventing pockets of unmixed flour or spice in your finished bars. This also helps to aerate the flour slightly, contributing to a lighter texture in your easy apple blondies.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tougher blondies. Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of dry flour. For more on this technique, learning how to fold ingredients without deflating can be helpful for maintaining a tender crumb.
Fold in Apples and Nuts
Gently fold in the diced apples and chopped nuts (if using) into the blondie batter until they are evenly distributed. A gentle folding motion ensures that the apples and nuts are incorporated without overworking the batter. This step is key to getting those delightful pockets of fruit and crunch in every bite of your baked apple blondies.
If you enjoyed this, you might also love our Apple Cinnamon Muffins recipe.
Bake the Blondies
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with your spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to dry, crumbly blondies; the center should still be slightly soft, as it will continue to cook as it cools.
Cool and Cut
Let the blondies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang. Once cooled, cut them into squares using a sharp knife. Allowing them to cool fully is essential for clean cuts and the best chewy texture, making these some of the best apple blondies you’ll ever taste.
Tips for the Best Cinnamon Apple Blondies
Achieving the perfect texture and flavor in your apple blondies involves a few key considerations. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your dessert bars are a guaranteed hit.
If you enjoyed this, you might also love our Apple Cinnamon Bread recipe.
Choosing the Right Apples
Select apples that hold their shape well when baked and offer a good balance of sweetness and tartness. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith are excellent choices for these blondies. If you prefer a sweeter blondie, use sweeter apples; for a bit more tang, a Granny Smith can be a great addition. For more inspiration on apple desserts, explore apple dessert recipes.
Achieving a Chewy Texture
The secret to chewy blondies lies in a few factors: using melted butter, a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar (which is already achieved in this recipe), and not overmixing the batter. Also, slightly underbaking them is crucial, as they will continue to set up as they cool. A slightly gooey center is the hallmark of a truly chewy blondie.
Spice Level and Variations
Feel free to adjust the amount of cinnamon to your preference. For an extra layer of warmth, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger or cloves along with the nutmeg. If you don’t have fresh apples, you can use about 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce or canned apple pie filling, though the texture will be slightly different. These apple cinnamon bars are quite forgiving and adaptable to your taste.
Don’t miss out on our guide to How To Cream Butter And Sugar.
Make-Ahead and Storage
These cinnamon apple blondies can be made a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you plan to keep them longer, they can be refrigerated for up to a week, though they might become a bit firmer; allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture. They also freeze beautifully for longer storage.
Serving Ideas and Pairings
These delicious apple blondies are wonderful on their own, but they can be elevated with a few simple additions. Their warm, spiced flavor makes them a perfect accompaniment to many classic desserts and beverages.
With Ice Cream or Whipped Cream
For an extra decadent treat, serve a warm cinnamon apple blondie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. The contrast of warm blondie with cold ice cream is simply divine, and the sweetness of the cream complements the apple and cinnamon beautifully. This pairing is reminiscent of enjoying a slice of apple pie à la mode.
Another favorite of ours is the How To Make Ice Cream At Home.
As Part of a Dessert Platter
These bars are excellent for potlucks, parties, or holiday gatherings. Arrange them alongside other fall baking recipes like apple muffins or apple bread for a festive spread. They also pair well with other types of dessert bars, offering a delightful fruity and spiced option. Consider them a star among your apple cinnamon bars.
Beverage Pairings
Enjoy these seasonal blondies with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or apple cider. The warm beverages enhance the spices in the blondies, creating a cozy and comforting experience. For a more adult pairing, a spiced rum or a bourbon also complements the flavors wonderfully.
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cinnamon apple blondies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups finely diced fresh apples
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, and 2 cups packed light brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in 2 large eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in 1 ½ cups finely diced fresh apples (like Honeycrisp or Gala) and ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. The edges should be golden brown.
- Let the blondies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
Notes
- For an extra cinnamon kick, you can sprinkle a little extra cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
- Ensure your apples are diced small enough to distribute evenly in the batter.
- Blondies are best enjoyed within 2-3 days, stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
