Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze.
If there was ever a recipe that screams fall, it’s these soft and gooey Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze. Made with nutty browned butter, salted apple butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Then generously glazed with a sweet, thick, and creamy cinnamon maple glaze. There’s really nothing not to love about these autumn spiced apple blondies. The true secret? Brown butter and sweet apple butter. They keep these blondies incredibly flavorful, soft, gooey, and so delicious. The added bonus is that these bars require almost no effort to make. They’re sweet, salty, heavy on the apple butter, extra cinnamony, and every last bite is truly delicious.
We’re going on a three-week roll of Friday apple desserts and I’m not seeing an end in the near future. Well, ok. I’ll probably switch it up next Friday, but my point is that I have so many fall apple recipes written on my “to make” list. I plan to make as many as I can.
I was worried you guys would be sick of apples, but after a quick poll on Instagram earlier this week, you all assured me that the more apple recipes the better. YES. I am so with you guys. I think I said this last week, but September is apple month, save the pumpkins for October and November, you know?
These blondies are easy. Here are the steps.
These are not your average blondie. They are so much better.
For starters, there’s browned butter, apple butter, and fresh apples too. So much apple happening, and it’s SO GOOD!
Second, these are truly the easiest to make, they don’t even require a mixer, just a bowl and skillet. We all have those.
Start out by browning salted butter on the stove. Browning the butter really adds a rich nutty flavor to these bars and makes them just a touch cozier. Perfect as we slowly head into the cooler days of autumn. Once the butter is browned, remove it from the stove, and dump in all the remaining ingredients.
You’ll first add the apple butter, eggs, vanilla, flour, and spices (lots of cinnamon). This makes up the dough. Simple. Simple. But trust me, it’s going to be good.
Spread the dough out into a pan. Now, take the chopped apples and toss them with brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the apples over the dough, then bake. As the bars bake away, you’ll have incredible wafts of cinnamon, sweet apples, and butter in the air. It’s the coziest.
The key to these bars?
The key lies within the browned butter and the butter.
Butter keeps the bars rich and flavorful, but the apple butter adds a concentrated sweet apple flavor while also adding moisture. Combined together they make the best blondie bar.
For the apple butter, I used my homemade apple butter, but of course, you can use a store-bought apple butter too. That said, if you’ve never made homemade apple butter, this is the fall to do so. This sounds dramatic, but if you LOVE apples and jammy type spreads, then this apple butter will be life-changing. It’s my favorite to use in both sweet and savory autumn recipes.
While the bars cool, make the glaze.
Most blondie recipes are not glazed, but I wanted these to be extra special and a little over the top.
I took inspiration from my Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies and my Apple Scones, and decided on a buttery maple glazed with cinnamon throughout. It’s just some browned butter, maple, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Simple, but delicious.
I keep mine drizzly but still thick and creamy. That way it can really sink into all the nooks and crannies throughout these buttery blondie bars.
Buttery, apple filled, flavored with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, and topped with delicious and perfectly sweet maple glaze. Not much beats that, it’s autumn in a bar. Enjoy alongside a mug of steaming hot coffee, cider…or maybe even your favorite pumpkin spiced latte?!?
Total and complete perfection. Also…if you bake these up this weekend, your house is going to smell like fall, and trust me, it’s going to be amazing. Better than a fall candle. SO GOOD!
Looking for other sweet apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Spiced Pecan Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
Mulled Spiced Apple Cider Doughnuts
Double the Streusel Apple Butter Bars
Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter
Lastly, if you make these Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
If there was ever a recipe that screams fall, it’s these easy, soft, and gooey blondies!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, peeled (if desired), and chopped (about 2 cups chopped apples)
Cinnamon Maple Butter Glaze
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch flaky sea salt
Instructions
-
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Add the butter to a medium pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown, until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Stir often. Remove from the heat and stir in the apple butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Let cool 5 minutes. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, mixing until just combined. Spread the dough out into the prepared dish.
3. In a bowl, toss the apples with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Evenly sprinkle the apples over the dough. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, just until set in the center. If there is liquid in the center, swirl it around the pan, then bake another 5 minutes. Let cool.
4. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Add the butter to a small pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Drizzle the glaze over the bars. Let set for 5 minutes. Cut into bars...snack and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
To Make Gluten Free: Use an equal amount of your favorite gluten free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. I recommend Cup4Cup gluten free flour.
Storing: these bars keep well for 3-4 days at room temperature or in the fridge.
To cool the bars quickly for frosting: place in freezer for 15 minutes. Remove and glaze.
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Hello! This looks amazing! I really want to try this! Can you please share your best homemade apple butter recipe but on the stove? I don’t have a slow cooker. Actually they don’t even sell them in my country.
Hey Nicolette,
Here is the recipe for the apple butter:https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
omg these look sinful!!!
I am really glad you like these, Ruth!! Thank you! xTieghan
These look incredible!!! Definitely making them this Sunday!!! ❤️😋
Love that! Thank you so much Lauren! xTieghan
These look delicious. YES! This is apple season. I am not into pumpkin recipes until late October and November. I guess one reason is we have an Apple Festival about 30 minutes from us and apple orchards as well. This year the festival is cancelled of course. Also, when I worked at school everything was apple related in Sept. for kindergarteners. In fact, today they are making mini apple pies in our great granddaughters class.
I completely get not being into pumpkin until later in the season! Apples are the best right now! Aw that is so cute they are making mini apple pies! Love that! xTieghan
Whenever I receive your recipes, I just right to the recipe for ingredients….I know 100% that the recipe will be delicious! I do go back and read before making….HA!
Aw I am really glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you! xTieghan
These look delicious! Can’t wait to bake them for my family!
Thank you for including “cup” measurement for butter. In Canaada, our butter is not usually packaged in sticks so I would always have to do a little math before measuring.
I am happy that helped! I hope you love this recipe Joanne! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
I now know what to do with the jar of apple butter that’s been in my pantry! These look fabulous
Thank you so much Janet! I hope you love this recipe!! xTieghan
Could this work with almond flour to make them gluten-free?
Thank you for all the hard work you out into your recipes! Every one I’ve tried has been amazing!
Hey Jeannine,
I would recommend using an equal amount of gluten free flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I just made these and they are crazy good. Browning the butter made them richer and so tasty. (I had to taste one before dinner tonight!) I left the peels on the apples and they baked up soft with just a bit of texture. Next time I am adding nuts! The glaze was just on the edge of too sweet but that’s me. Amazing as always.
Love to hear that, Laurel! Thank you for trying this one! xTieghan
Saw these this morning and couldn’t help but make them right away. They are AMAZING! If I could give them more than 5 stars I would. Will definitely be making these again this fall!
Thank you so much Caitlin!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I woke up this morning wanting to bake but the chocolate merengue cake I had planned just wasn’t going to cut it. Then, I saw this recipe in my inbox and got so excited. My house smells like fall and these are incredible! I accidentally added all of the cinnamon to the blondie mix before realizing I was supposed to save some for the apples and it was a very happy accident! I highly recommend adding the extra cinnamon when you make these again!
The only thing I would say is that these needed way longer than 25 minutes. I had to rebake them after putting the glaze and cutting into them because That had to be eaten with a spoon, they were so gooey!
Hi Christy! I am really glad these turned out well for you! If you have any questions, I would love to help1 Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Would Granny Smith apples work?
Hey Chelsea,
Yes those would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
this came out great! i accidentally overbaked it slightly and it was stll so soft an delcious – i think we ate half in one go! will definitely make it again!
thank you for a fantastic recipe
Thank you so much Yasmin! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These are great to make and so delicious! Thank you!
Thank you so much Liz! xTieghan
I made a few mistakes. I read the directions wrong and added 2 and a half cups of brown sugar to the batter instead of reserving the last half cup for the apples. And my blondies took FOREVER to cook. Like a full hour-ish total cook time. I used a 10 x 10 inch ceramic dish, though. I need to invest in a good tin baking dish, I think. Any other suggestions or trouble shooting tips? They still came out really good and I paired with iced coffee. 🙂
These are delicious! I think they might be classified almost more of an apple cake though. Not quite as dense as a blonde usually is. The flavor is awesome though and the extra step to make homemade apple butter was the right choice!
Thank you so much Tayli!! I am really glad these blondies turned out so well for you! xTieghan
So so good! Made some apple butter this morning just so I could make this recipe. The brown butter adds such a nice nuttiness to the sweetness of the apples! Mine turned out a bit fluffy and cake-like, not quite like a blondie, but still absolutely delicious!
Thank you so much Kristine! I am so happy these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
As soon as I saw these up on Instagram, I knew I needed to make them! They are delicious but, unfortunately, I have to say, they are not blondies. I followed the recipe to a T and they came out more bready, like an apple cake. I’m not sure why. Against my better judgement, I used the 9X13″ pan as written. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, maybe a smaller pan could lend to a chewier, Blondie texture…?? But it’s an apple cake. A yummy one, yes, but still, not what I was wanting. 😭😭 Sorry Teighan, I love your work, but I just want to be honest!! 5 star for taste, 2 star for Blondie.
Hey Hannah! Hmm, not sure why your blondie is turning out cakey. Is there anything you have changed about the recipe? I don’t think a smaller pan is what you want to use. I imagine a smaller pan would give you and even cakier blondie. If there is any questions I can help you with please let me know! I’d love to help you get this recipe just the way you’d like it! If you can provide me with more details on how you baked the blondies, I think I could be of more help. Thank you!! xTieghan
UGH! This has my name ALL OVER IT!! Even though we are coming into spring here…I MUST make this as soon as possible! XD
Thank you so much Whytney!! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These were DELICIOUS! My family loved them too!
Thank you so much Lisa! xTieghan
Made these yesterday afternoon and they are simply delicious! The glaze is incredible could be used on so many different things. Even just on a piece of buttered sourdough toast! This will be a fall staple for desserts in my home!
That glaze is the bomb!
My husband and I both thought the bars came out dry and tasteless and with all those good ingredients you’d think it would be full if flavor. I had to bake it 40 minutes for it to get done in the center even though I swirled the pan spreading the moisture from the apples around. Maybe I baked it too long.
Hi Susan! I am really sorry these did not work for you. Is there anything you changed about the recipe? I would love to help! xTieghan
So good! Made with gluten free 1:1 flour. My whole house smelled amazing. The bars are moist and delicious!
Thank you Diza!! I am so happy these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
the flavor of these bars is AMAZING!! but mind did not firm up. the wetness from the apples affected the cake at the bottom. did I do something wrong? I love all the flavors but this is eaten in a bowl w a spoon for me. still delish
Hey Nicole,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try. I am so sorry they did not firm up for you. I am wondering if you adjusted the recipe at all or if they needed to be baked a little longer. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
I didn’t have apple butter (or the ambition to make my own) so I subbed pumpkin butter, and instead of apples, I topped it with walnuts. 10/10 would recommend!
Amazing! Thank you Claire! xTieghan
Went apple picking solely to make this recipe and it did not disappoint! It was a great fall dessert for our Sunday family dinner. Easy to make and so flavorful!
Thank you so much Casey!! xTieghan
Made these today, so incredible! The glaze is the BOMB!! Easy to make and SO delicious!
Thank you so much Debra! xTieghan
Talk about a fantastic fall dessert Bingo this is it I also made my own Apple butter The family raved about it My daughter who just had her baby yesterday said mom I love this girl lol I’ve made a lot of your recipes and that’s always what she says
Haha that is so amazing! Congrats to your daughter on her baby!! So exciting! xTieghan
I skipped the glaze because I was out of powered sugar but these are sooo good even without it. Easy. Delicious. Probably going to eat the whole pan in one night.
Yes!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Emily! xTieghan
These were delicious! Quick and easy to make.
Thank you so much Hannah! xTieghan
These were AMAZING!! I had no issues with the blondies turning out cake-like as some reviews have mentioned. They did take about 15 minutes longer for my oven than the suggested bake time, but the wait was worth it! Will definitely make these again.
Thank you Ralph! I am so happy these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Was so excited to try these. Unfortunately, I found them very dry. They did not remind me of brownies – more like a dense, dry cake.
Hi Ray! Is there anything that could have gone wrong while making the recipe? I would love to help! xTieghan
These were amazing and so easy! They tasted like the gooey center of a cinnamon roll. We couldn’t get enough. Thank you!
Thank you so much Katie! I am really happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I also had the same challenge on bake time. Because the Apple and brown sugar on top was kind of gooey, I couldn’t tell if it was baked or not. I baked for 30 mins and it was a underdone Still and hard to cut into squares. Super delicious(!!!!) but I think under cooked?
Hey Caroline,
Sorry you had issues with the bake time. Next time try sticking a knife in the middle, if it comes out clean then it is done, if not it needs more time. I hope this helps! xTieghan
These turned out really good! I did overbake them slightly, make sure to carefully test doneness, avoiding the apple pieces.
Thank you so much Anne! xTieghan
These are dangerous. I used a slightly smaller pan so these were thicker and required a longer cook time. Worth it! I also threw in a sprig of rosemary while browning the butter for a little something extra – highly recommend. The slightest twang goes a long way!
I am so happy you loved these Jess!! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Love these! I was worried about baking time after reading reviews but mine seem fine after the original 30 and swirling liquid around and then finishing for an additional 5. The maple glaze is amazing!
Thank you so much Brittany!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I cannot figure out what I might have done wrong. They came out more spongey and cakey than I expected and a little drier? They were still great and the flavor is there but I feel like I may have done something. What do you think.
Hey Shydeenha,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe. Is there anything that you adjusted? I would love to help! xTieghan
I made these tonight after going apple picking and they are so over-the-top delicious! I love the use of salted butter for the browned butter in both the glaze and the blondies. It’s just the right hint of salt to cut the delicious sweetness! (also probably why I love your crinkle top brownies so much!) I brought these to a socially-distanced park gathering and everyone was asking for the recipe! Thanks so much!! 🙂
Wow that is so amazing to hear! I am really glad these brownies turned out so well for you all, Abby! Thank you for trying this! xTieghan
I made apple cider so I could make apple butter so I could make this recipe! AND I still have almost a full bag of apples from the orchard 😅😵
Wow that sounds amazing! I am really glad this turned out so well for you Mary! xTieghan
You had me at brown butter! Made these last night. Easy recipe with delicious results. I stuck them in the fridge overnight and I dare say they taste even better the next day!
Thank you so much Emily! I am so happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These were beyond delicious!! Love fall and love these! Will make again and again.
Love that!! Thank you so much Julie! xTieghan
Hey Tieghan – do you have any recommends for what you can sub apple butter for? Trying to streamline 🤠
Can’t wait to make!
Thanks,
Meg
Hey Meg,
The apple butter is what really makes this recipe. Here is another blondie recipe that I have:https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/salted-milk-chocolate-and-peanut-butter-blondies/
Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the recipe. Thank you! xTieghan
I made these today, really delicious. But, that being said, they’re not blondies. It’s a cake. Great with a cup of coffee or tea. Nobody was complaining about the taste, that’s for sure, but if you’re expecting brownie type texture this isn’t it. But 4 stars for taste!
Hi Diana! Is there anything that I can help with in this recipe? I am glad you still enjoyed it! xTieghan
I was coming to ask about Apple butter substitutions as I have a jar of pumpkin butter or applesauce. Good to know ilk be able to sub 1:1 with those. These look delicious & will be what Ibake with my bruised apples I dropped this morning, doh! Happy baking & thanks for the great recipe! My cousin made it & posted it on IG & I knew I needed to try as well!
Amazing! I hope this turns out amazing for you, Kami! Also, so happy you both are making this one! xTieghan
Holy crap! I had to make these gluten free and even with the 1-1 substitution these are my FAVORITE apple dessert now. 🙂
YES!! So happy to hear that, Clair! Thank you! xTieghan
The apple blondies are tasty! Mine turned out more cake-like. Did I bake them too long? Love your recipes!!!
Hey Lisa,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! Did you adjust the recipe at all? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Just made this and it’s fabulous! Won’t last long here! A perfect way to use up a few of the Mac’s that are ready right now here locally. Love your recipes .
Thank you so much Hazel! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
So amazing!!
Thank you so much Lindsay! xTieghan
Just made these today and they are tasty! That being said, I do wish I had read the other comments because like many others have said, mine did not turn out with a blondie texture at all. I followed the recipe exactly, use an oven thermometer, baked exactly 25 minutes, and ended up with a dense, almost dry cake. Still delicious and it wasn’t a waste! But not the blondie chewy texture I was hoping for that was described. I may try making these again and decrease the amount of flour and/or baking time and see what happens. Still very yummy but not a blondie in my opinion!
Hi Christina! I am sorry this did not have the texture you were looking for. Is there anything that could have changed while making these? I would love to help! xTieghan
Made these to take to my family’s Friday night burger party. Everyone raved! Perfect blend of autumn flavors
Thank you so much Sallie!! xTieghan
I made these yesterday – fantastic! Such a rich, deep flavour! But as a result of this, I have several jars of homemade apple butter screaming to be used! Could you please make a collection of all your recipes with apple butter, so I can get some inspiration for what to make next?
Hey Caroline,
I love to use apple butter on toast, chicken, and cocktails! Here are some other recipes:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/apple-butter-bars/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/spiced-pecan-apple-cider-doughnut-cake/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/prosciutto-apple-and-sage-butter-chicken/
I hope this helps! xTieghan
O.M.G. SO GOOD!
Thank you so much Kayla!! xTieghan
Thanks for the recipe,
Mine came out more cake like than chewy blondie like, any idea where I went wrong?
Hey,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe. I am wondering if you adjusted the recipe at all? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Where is the video to this recipe?? I have looked everywhere! Thanks. Love your stuff by the way!
Hey Karina,
I have a video saved to IG highlights. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So mine came out waaaaay underdone. I cooked them for 30 min., and the middle was set – a little wobbly but not liquid at all. Two changes I made: shredded the apples and mixed them in, and subbed applesauce for apple butter. I’m thinking my changes skewed the liquid ratio, though the batter was pretty thick. The taste is quite good, but there is no way I can remove these from the pan as they will ooze into a puddle. Can I save them? Pop them back in the oven? It would be such a shame to waste but the glaze is already on. Help!
Hey Courtney,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe. Unfortunately, the substitutes that you made definitely could have affected the outcome. I would try popping these back into the oven for a bit longer. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hey Tieghan! This looks os good! I saw you recently shared an apple butter recipe on Instagram that can be made without a slow cooker, but can’t find it here. Can you tell me where I can find it, please?
Hi Maria! I am so happy you like these! I will leave the link for the apple butter below! I hope you enjoy! xTieghan
Amazingly delicious! I was worried about this being overly sweet but was so surprised how balanced everything was. The whole family enjoyed it, so good with coffee! Super easy to make and share with friends and family!
Yes!! So happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made these this afternoon – a rainy cool day in metro Detroit. Wow! They are delicious. I am now a brown butter and apple butter fan. Thank you for this delish fall recipe. I will make these over and over.
Wow yes love that!! Thank you so much Stacy! xTieghan
Loved this recipe, especially the brown butter in both the bars and the glaze, and the glaze is amazing! I also love how easy & quick it was to make. The only issue I had was that it came out more cake like and not blondie. I followed the recipe as written except for a jarred apple butter. I used the 9×13 pan, and cooked for 30 minutes and swirled and cooked for another 5 minutes. I used the 1 teaspoon baking powder as written. Is it possible it needs less baking powder? Or perhaps cook for less time to get a fudgie texture?
Hey Katria! So happy you loved these! I would recommend cooking for less time. Try 25 minutes. This will give you a nice fudgy blondie I would imagine. Always best to under bake in my opinion! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you!! xTieghan
So yummy, glaze makes the whole recipe!
I am so happy you like this, Charlotte! Thank you! xTieghan
Yes.
Made these today, I had to make two adjustments, I only had about a teaspoon of cinnamon left, so I subbed in some cardamom (a favorite in our house) and it’s amazing. AMAZING. I’m about to cut my second piece… the second adjustment was adding some vanilla paste and about a tablespoon of milk to my glaze, this helped it really come together. This is a winning recipe! (As always 😉
Thank you so much Katie!! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These came out perfect and the apple butter made them truly unique! I have a smaller pan so end up halving most of your recipes and they turn out great as well. I used some leftover aquafaba that I had for this recipe and no one noticed! I don’t really like cinnamon, but I think you’re changing that.
Thank you so much Thy! I am really glad this turned out so well! xTieghan
I bought apple butter to make this recipe, but the apple butter isn’t very thick and it’s more apple sauce consistency. Therefore, I’m worried about the overall consistency if I use it. Any suggestions? Should I use less of it than the recipe calls for?
Hey Tina,
I would just follow the recipe as is:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This is an apple cake. Super disappointed.
Hi Danielle! I am sorry this did not turn out as expected! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! xTieghan
The smell of my kitchen the entire time baking these was soooo good. But my glaze separated, and I’m not sure why! Should I have sifted the confectioners sugar?
I wound up adding the clumpy mixture on top while it was still in the oven since I didn’t have the ingredients to remake it. Still delish.
Hey Kayla,
So sorry you had issues with the glaze, I am thinking your butter was too hot. Please let me know if you have any other questions, thanks for trying the recipe! xTieghan
I think this is my favorite recipe I’ve made from half baked harvest so far. And possibly my favorite thing I’ve ever made. It’s fall and all things happy and I could literally eat half a pan without stopping. I’m making my second batch tomorrow cause the first one only lasted 24 hours!
Love to hear that! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Frannie! xTieghan
Hmm, I’m not sure what happened but I had to add 20 minutes to the cook time. This also happened to me with your crinkle top brownies! Not sure what I’m doing wrong! These look amazing, wish they turned out better for me.
Love to hear that! Thank you for trying these, Mallory! xTieghan
the most amazing blondies! first fall item I baked this year and I can’t wait to make them again! The glaze makes these extra special!
I am so happy you have been loving these, Rosie! Thank you! xTieghan
Just made these and they are amazing!! Super simple to make and the flavors delicious. Already planning on making these 5 more times 😋
Hi Katie! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you! xTieghan
I baked these bars this morning, and everyone in my family LOVES them! The browned butter amplifies the spicy fall flavors. Simply delicious!
Thank you so much Rachel! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
OH MY GAWD, these were so good. I grew up loving brown butter. My family would brown butter and pour it over egg noodles. My grandma would made brown butter icing for cakes. Needless to say, I knew this would be a hit. The apples were still a little raw which I didn’t mind. They added a nice texture to the soft blondie. I think I’ll try making these next time but maybe omit the apples because I’m a total sweet tooth right now and just love to focus on the blondie and glaze.
Hi Katherine! I love that your family loves brown butter! It is the BEST! Thank you so much for giving these a try! I am glad they turned out well for you! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! If I don’t have a metal baking pan, can I use a 9×13 enameled cast iron dish instead? Not sure if that would adjust the temp or baking time. Thanks!!
Hey Emily,
That would be totally fine to use! No need to adjust anything, just keep an eye on them:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was AMAZING! I also made your slow cooker apple butter because I couldn’t any at the store and that was awesome. My husband (who is not a sugar fanatic whatsoever) was in love with these blondies! He said it’s the best thing I’ve ever baked (and I bake a lot!). Thank you so much for all of your recipes!
Hi Caroline! I am so happy you both loved this recipe! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
I agree with a few other commenters- these were good but not anything like a blondie. It’s much more like a cake texture. I also found it to be a bit overly sweet. Good flavors from the browned butter.
Hi Allison! I am sorry these did not turn out as expected! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! xTieghan
these were SO delicious, my kitchen smells like candied apples in the best way! mine turned out really well but I had to bake them for 35-38 minutes (and still are really soft and gooey after cooking for a few hours). They’re set, like the bottom is firm but probably could have done 42-45 minutes and still had them be undone in that yummy way I like blondies to be. maybe my apples were chopped too small and it affected the baking time? either way, SO good!! xx
Hey Molly,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! Unfortunately all oven are slightly different so that could have affected your baking time! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were wonderful! So delicious – the browned butter adds a depth of flavor that is just lovely with the cinnamon and tart apples. I even messed it up – I put all of the brown sugar and cinnamon in the dough, and then just added less on the apples, and it was still excellent! Rave reviews from family members. Will make again!
Hi Lauren! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
Can’t wait to try these! They look amazing. If I’m halving the recipe to make 12 bars, what size pan do you suggest using?
Hey Emily,
I would do an 8 inch baking dish. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I bet if I add pecans on the top and then add the glaze it would be even more amazing
Yum! If you try that, let me know how it turns out for you! Thank you Paula! xTieghan
Hi Tiegen,
These look amazing! I’m planning on making either these or the double the streusel apple bars for dessert this evening, hard to pick between the two! I made the amazing apple butter on your site yesterday. I’m wondering if I could make either of the bars ahead and then keep in the fridge before baking? Thank you so much!
Aaaah, these look so goooood! Gutted I have to wait until I’ve made apple butter before I can make these, ha ha!
Hi Sarah! I am really glad you like these! You can also find apple butter usually at farmers markets if you do not want to wait to make it! I hope you love these blondies! xTieghan
The texture was really off on these for me. It was very dry and cakey.
Hi Kelly! I am sorry to hear that! Is there anything I can help with? xTieghan
I was so excited to make these, because blondies are one of my favorite flavors and “textures” for desserts, but after making these, I had the same result as several others…followed the recipe to a T (I used to have my own bakery, so I’m not a novice), and these came out more like a shorter cake (“pan cake” lol). Was disappointed, because I was really looking forward to a brownie-like consistency (a delicate crisp or crunch on top, with a mildly underbaked gooey middle). These were not that. I also wished the recipe instructed to bake longer, because by the time I had already put the drizzle on top and let it set and cut into bars, the middle was very underbaked. I can only assume the high moisture content from the apples sprinkled on top would contribute to this, so it would definitely need more time to bake through. The recipe overall has a good deal of moisture in it from the brown sugar and the apples together, and usually alot of moisture contributes to “cakey” brownies, so that would help explain some of the cakey-ness here. Appreciated trying it though!
Hi Heather! I am sorry these did not turn out as expected! I will look into the recipe again! Thank you for trying these! xTieghan
Can these be frozen?
Hey Teri,
Sure you could freeze these! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made these tonight, and did really enjoy them!
But they did come out a lot more bready / cakey than a blondie. Perhaps too much flour? I feel most blondie recipes have a closer qty of flour and sugar.
Hey Dominique,
Thanks for trying the recipe, I am sorry you had issues with the texture and they did not come out at expected. Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
I unfortunately have to agree with the other comments in which it was reviewed as “cakey”. I was a high school cooking teacher and can tell you I followed recipe this to the letter. The bars aren’t terrible, they’re just not that good. Im actually pitching the whole batch and making brownies. Sad about the wasted ingredients.
Hi Ashley! I am really sorry about that! I hope you enjoy some other recipes of mine! xTieghan
I’m so excited to try these! I only have dark brown sugar on hand — should I use less of it or make any adjustments?
Hey Selena,
I would leave the measurements the same. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Please fix the link to the homemade apple butter recipe in this article…it linked to a blank/null page w/ no content. I’d really like to try making the apple butter and use it in this recipe! Thanks!
Hi Janet! The link work for me when I tried it.. what is is linking to for you? I will leave the link below for you as well! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
I made these for my mom’s birthday. They were so delicious!!
Love that! Thank you so much Lisa! Happy Birthday to your mom! xTieghan
these were delicious! definitely agree with others that it was more of an apple cake than a blondie, but I really loved the texture anyway! I tried reducing the quantity of flour as well to get it closer to a blondie texture, by 1/4 cup, but it was still cakey. again, still delicious, warm, and perfect for fall!
Thank you so much Selena!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Very tasty! But with other commenters these are definitely cakey and not blondies. I think there’s too much flour in the recipe. I didn’t make any subs and used a kitchen scale to measure everything out. Still yummy though!
Hi Nina! I am glad you still liked these even though the texture was a bit off! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Good, but definitely cake-y rather than a blondie texture. This also happened with a brownie recipe I used from Half-baked Harvest. I followed both recipes exactly and don’t quite know what is going wrong. Should I use less flour?
Hey AG,
Sorry you are getting different results, I am wondering if your baking powder is fresh? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
These are to die for! Made them this evening after a friend sent me the recipe, didn’t have apple butter and no means to make it so I settled for stewing apples with brown sugar and water, and then blending them and adding it to the dough, and they actually turned out pretty well ! Served them warm with some fresh whipped cream, perfect for after dinner with a coffee!
Hi Leah! I am really glad these turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying them! xTieghan
As with some of the other comments, my “blondies” turned out more like cakey. From what I’ve read, overmixing can cause more cake like brownies and too much moisture can as well. Any liquid from the cut apples might affect the dough consistency, so next time I will make sure to let those apples reduce their juice for a bit (and not add it). The flavor was still great and the icing is a hit. I will try again, as I love blondies, and apple butter.
Hi Samantha! I am sorry this did not turn out as expected! I hope these turn out better for you the next time! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! xTieghan
So amazing! I even made w/ dairy-free butter and they turned out well!
Amazing! Thank you so much Lindsay! xTieghan
I normally love all of your recipes, but as others have mentioned, this one also resulted cake-y / dry / bread-y for me too — 🙁 The top was delicious (the glaze especially — yum!), but the bottom part was just the greatest texture or flavor. Not sure what I did wrong — 🙁 Thought I followed the recipe pretty closely.
Just finished making (and eating) this delicious recipe. The flavor was on point, but like others in the comments, mine definitely were more “cake” than “blondie”. I was expecting them to be a bit more chewy bar-like than cake-like. I baked them for exactly 25 minutes. I added some almond extract in the batter and pecans to the apple mixture. HIGHLY recommend doing so. 🙂
Thank you so much Meredith! xTieghan
These are wonderful, and the flavor is more of a caramel apple. I agree with the reviewers who commented on the texture. Mine also produced more of a cake like texture, but they’re delicious. I’ll make them again. Thanks for the wonderful fall recipes!
Thank you for trying this Dina! I hope you love all of the fall recipes I share! xTieghan
Killer good !!!
Next time I’m gonna try it with candied walnuts on top instead of apples.
Yum! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi…I was wondering if you might be able to help me troubleshoot. My batch turned out more like a cake than brownies!?! Any thoughts?
Hey Lisa,
So sorry you had issues with the texture! Did you adjust anything in the recipe? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Made these amazing blondes today and they did not disappoint! Soooo delicious! I did have to bake about an hour, like others have noted, but worth the wait!
Thank you so much Jackie! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
The cooking time was about double of the recipe and the texture was nothing like a blondie – more cake like. There wasn’t much flavor to it aside from the glaze. Everyone in my family gave it a pass and only one did not throw theirs away in the bin.
I am really sorry about that, Annette. Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! Otherwise, I hope you love some other recipes of mine! xTieghan
I made these yesterday and the flavor is great!! However, they were much more cakey in texture than your bars. I didn’t weigh my flour as I usually do because there weren’t any weight measurements given, so I spooned and leveled the flour. I think next time I might try adding more apple butter to get a denser consistency and also bake them for less time. Overall, great recipe! Thanks!!
Thank you so much Erin! I am really glad these turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
I made these tonight. They were delicious! How is the texture supposed to be at the end? Is it more like a cake or like a brownie? After 30 minutes the edges were cooked like a very moist cake but the center was mush and I had to put it back in the oven to cook longer.
Hey Kristin,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. The final texture is meant to be more like a brownie. All ovens can be slightly different so you definitely want to make sure they are baked through before removing from the oven. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These are phenomenal!! So easy and fast to make and so delicious!!
I am so glad you enjoyed these, Albany! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
These are so good!!!! And they freeze really well surprisingly! Gonna whip up another batch soon!
Love to hear that! Thank you Kristina! xTieghan
Can I use this same receipe to make cookies instead?
Hey Linda,
I would give this recipe a try:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/brown-sugar-maple-cookies/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can I use this receipe to make cookies instead?
Unfortunately turned out more like an Apple cake than a blondie. Good flavor but not what I was expecting.
I am sorry about that! Please let me know if there is anything I can help with! xTieghan
Mine also came out cake like and a little dry. Bottom was browned but I think I could have taken out 5 minutes earlier. I baked for the 30 minutes. I followed the recipe exactly. Good flavor especially where there were apples. I may try again. You have a gift for presenting your food in a way that is mouth watering. I will be trying a lot more of them.
Hi Rebecca! I am really sorry this did not turn out as expected! Is there anything I can help with? I would love to! xTieghan
This was INCREDIBLE. So easy, so delicious – a total crowd pleaser!
Thank you Kelly! xTieghan
Big fan of the site and love all the recipes! Agree with other reviews that end product is more cake-like than a traditional blondie texture. I did not make my own apple butter so maybe that’s the difference?? Good flavor and really easy but wouldn’t make again.
Hi Katie! I am sorry the texture was different than expected. I hope you enjoy some other recipes of mine! xTieghan
These were delicious! A little bit of a struggle to find apple butter in Italy (so I think I used an apple butter/apple sauce hybrid) – but either way even with that, these were AMAZING. They made the entire kitchen smell delicious and this will for sure be a go back to recipe!!
Hi Emily! Wow I am so happy to hear that!! Thank you so much for trying this one! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
These are truly very delicious. Very sweet. I sprinkled even more flaky salt on top. I couldn’t find my beloved apple butter anywhere, but applesauce worked just fine. I have a tricky oven and found mine needed longer than suggested to cook, but this is normal for me. Cooked until a knife came out almost clean. FALL!
Amazing! I am really glad these turned out so well for you, Lucy! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Hello, really nice recipe. Like someone else mentioned, I also did not realize that the brown sugar should be divided and therefore added too much to the dough — I think this is why my bars took a long time to bake. I might suggest adding “,divided” to the ingredients list so folks know to reserve 1/2 cup for the apples. Also, I needed way less than two apples to sprinkle them fully across my 9×13 pan — one large honey crisp should do it.
Hi Kayla! I am sorry that was a bit confusing! I hope these still tasted amazing! xTieghan
Can these be made with pumpkin butter instead?? Look delicious and can’t wait to make them myself! xx
Hey Adele,
You can certainly use pumpkin butter, I would just note that it will change the flavor slightly. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were delicious and super easy to make. My oven is old so they took about 45 minutes to bake, I took them out twice to move the liquid on top around the blondies and followed by baking 5 minutes.
Also I had a little trouble on the first attempted with the glaze, I added the maple syrup directly into the pot after melting the butter and the sugar burned, so I tried again. The second attempt I melted the butter, then put it in a bowl and added the maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon and salt there. Nothing burned and it came out great!
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to make it again.
Hi Madi! I am really glad this recipe turned out so amazing for you! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
can these be made ahead of time and frozen? if not, what thanksgiving dessert would you suggest that can be frozen and then used for holiday. was looking more for bars than cookies.
Thanks.
Hey Sherryl,
I would give these a try: https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/bourbon-caramel-pretzel-cookies/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I would love to try this recipe; however, do not have apple butter, or enough ingredients on hand to make. What can I substitute for apple butter?
Thanks!
Hey Lisa,
You could use apple sauce in place of the apple butter. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Dear Tieghan, would unsalted butter work? In Russia salted butter is a rare thing.Should I add extra salt then?
Hey Olga,
Yes, unsalted butter is fine to use, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi there!
If I were to sub for dairy free butter (allergy), would I need to adjust any cooking time? These look incredible and I would love to make them!
Hey Jessica,
Nope, I would follow the recipe as is! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
The link to the homemade apple butter doesn’t work.
Hi Jean! I am sorry about that! I will fix it! The link to the recipe is below! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
Hi Tieghan,
I am really keen to make these however apple butter is not available in Australia. Can I use apple sauce instead?
Hey Mikaela,
You can use apple sauce or follow my recipe for homemade apple butter: https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-slow-cooker-maple-apple-butter/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
How do I freeze this? Make and glaze and then freeze?
Hey Alice,
I would follow the recipe as is and then freeze. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I gave this 4 stars because it tastes delicious!! Buttt I’d have to agree with a few of the other comments in that mine came out more like a cake and less like a yummy dense blondie. Not sure if I did something wrong! Again, still delicious nonetheless!
Hi Morgan! I am sorry the texture was off for you.. I am glad you still enjoyed these!! xTieghan
As other reviewers stated, mint came out more like a cake than a blondie. I did use an apple jam instead of apple butter. But everything else was correct. I whisked the eggs before i added them to brown butter? Was that it? Also my butter wasn’t completely brown i was too scared to burn?
Thoughts?
Hey Lauren,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I am sorry they came out like a cake. Were your leveling agents fresh? The brown butter wouldn’t cause this issue. Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
I wound up making these with pumpkin butter since I had some left from another recipe – the cinnamon swirl chocolate chip pumpkin bread which was INSANELY good. I skipped the apples on top and added chopped pecans instead. The brown butter truly makes these – and I think I could drink the glaze by the bucket full! Can’t wait to try it as written with the apples and apple butter. Thanks for another winner!
Hi Brenda! I am really happy this recipe turned out so amazing for you! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Brown butter is everything! These apple blondies are off the charts! Super easy to put together – they taste amazing. This is must try!
Thank you so much Julee! xTieghan
Sooo yummy& easy!! We loved these. Thank you so much ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you Kristina! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
Did you use your homemade maple apple butter for this recipe? Curious if the maple will overpower the recipe.
Thanks so much … love all your recipes! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Cheers!
Kim
Hey Kim,
I did use my recipe yes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
My first time making apple blondies and they did not disappoint!
Thank you Jennifer! xTieghan
Had to bake this double the time to get it set. And still more of a coffee cake texture.
Hi Lizzie! I am sorry about that. I hope they still tasted good. Is there anything I can help with? xTieghan
Hi! These look amazing! I’m planning on making for Thanksgiving dessert – can I make these 2 days ahead of time and they’ll still be moist?
These were incredible! Instead of the usual brownies or chocolate chip cookies, I am going to make this recipe my go-to dessert for family gatherings.
Love that! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you, Katie! xTieghan
Something was off about this recipe for me. I went back and checked several times and all the measurements were correct. The batter was very sticky and hard to spread, almost like soft chew caramel. It also took them forever to bake and then when they were baked they were overdone. It seemed like there was way too much sugar. What could have went wrong?
Hey Natalie,
So sorry you had issues with this recipe! Was there anything you could have adjusted? Used a different cooking method? I haven’t had this issue so I am not sure what could have happened. Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
While absolutely delish, I did NOT end up with anything remotely resembling a blondie. The end result was cake. Moist, flavorful, perfectly baked CAKE. I can’t imagine why, because the base of the recipe IS a blondie/cookie base, the only variation being apple butter and baking powder instead of baking soda. My pan has no density, no crumble, no crisp edges. Again, its good, but its cake, and I didn’t want cake. If I wanted cake, I’d of baked a cake 🙁 what went wrong?
Hey Debra,
PI am sorry you had trouble. Was there anything you did differently at all? Any ingredients different? Method of baking this? Any info will be helpful to help me problem solve and figure out what might be happening for you. It’s hard to know without knowing any details.
Also, you cam try using baking soda instead of powder to see if that helps, but I don’t think that is the issue.
Hope I can help you! Thank you! And Happy Holidays!! xTieghan 🎄
The recipe wasn’t quite finished with the bake time provided. I had to bake approx 10-15 min longer for the middle to set. After cooling, the inside was semi dry. Wondering if I should have pulled them when they still looked unset in the middle vs. would a little bit of oil in the mix fix this? Otherwise, the flavoring was delicious! I just wished the dough was slightly more moist.
Hey there,
So sorry you had issues with the baking time. Next time, I would recommend sticking a knife in the middle, if it comes out clean then they are done. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Made these today and they were amazing!!! The only issue I found myself having was the apples not browning and getting that dark brown sugary color which is still okay because I’m sure it tastes the same. Thank you for the recipe!
Thank you Angie!! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I mentioned previously that I would try these with candied walnuts. For Thanksgiving, I made these using one honeycrisp apple and 1-1/2 cups candied walnuts on top. Deelish! The walnuts added a nice crispy crunch. Next time I will double the icing volume…can’t get enough of that awesome gooey glaze!
Thank you so much! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
A new family favorite! I am about to make a second batch to put in boxes of Christmas goodies…so my question is “how well do these freeze?”
I had a bushel of fall apples to use up, so when I went to make these I realized I first had to make apple butter – but the apple butter recipe I used needed apple cider, so then I had to make apple cider first, then apple buttter…so at the end of the day, I managed to use up most of my apples. Thank you for a great recipe!
Hey Karen,
I am so glad you have been enjoying this recipe! I have never frozen these, but you can certainly give it a try! Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These were delicious! But definitely baked up more like an apple snack cake rather than blondies. I followed the recipe exactly except tossed the apples in only 1/4 cup of brown sugar. The bake time is much longer also, I had this in the oven for 40 minutes to get the right consistency. Would make again and add walnuts for some added texture.
I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Jen! Thank you for trying this one! xTieghan
Amazing!!
Hey Becca,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I changed nothing while doing this recipe, followed it to a T, but… still cake-like. Since so many people are having this issue, I wonder what it could be… tasted delicious though!
Hey Kristen,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry you did not enjoy the texture. Let me know how I can help! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I made these with gluten free flour, they were great! Super yummy.
Hey Tianna,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made these yesterday. The tops of my bars are delicious – the bottoms are fine – I think I might have kept them in a little too long worried about the dough towards the top getting done enough (since they were wetter). Wondering if you’ve tried it putting the apple pieces all through the batter rather than only on top and if so how that turned out?! Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Hey Leah,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry I’ve not tried adding the apple to the batter. Let me know how they turn out! xTieghan
I love these! It is really hard for me to tell if they are done. They seem cooked on the edge, but too soft in the middle. How do you know? This is my second time making them because they were so yummy, but they are int he oven right now and I still don’t know if they are done. 🙂
Hey Kerry,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try. I am so glad that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan