Maple-Glazed Apple Blondies with Warm Fall Spices
Soft, chewy blondies layered with spiced apples and finished with a maple glaze. A cozy fall dessert that combines cinnamon, apples, and maple in every bite.
9 Servings
Ingredients
For the Blondies:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Apple Filling:
- 2 large apples finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Maple Glaze:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the Pan
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, or lightly grease with cooking spray.
Cook the Apple Filling
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the chopped apples, dark brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the apples soften slightly. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Make the Blondie Batter
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients until fully combined. The batter will be thick.
Assemble the Blondies
- Spread half of the blondie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Top with the cooled apple filling. Spread the remaining blondie batter over the apples, smoothing gently with a spatula.
Bake
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the blondies to cool for 10–15 minutes before glazing.
Prepare the Maple Glaze
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon over low heat. Remove from the heat and sift in the powdered sugar, whisking until smooth. Let cool for 8–10 minutes to thicken slightly.
Glaze and Serve
- Pour the glaze evenly over the blondies. Allow it to set before slicing into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the standard flour. Ensure that your baking powder and powdered sugar are certified gluten-free.