Easy Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting

These easy Apple Blondies are packed full of delicious fall apple flavors in a soft, cinnamon blonde brownie.

I had to make these easy apple blondies at least three times in order to take pictures of them. Each time I made them, they disappeared long before I could get their picture taken with no leftovers to be seen.

So one lazy Saturday afternoon, I decided to make them again just to get them photographed and on the blog. They’ve been a popular reader favorite ever since.

Apple Blondies

I originally published this recipe for Apple Blondies in November 2014, but I’ve since updated the pictures and the recipe to include a brown sugar frosting. I tried it once and will never go back.

The bars are delicious both ways, but that brown sugar frosting takes them right over the top!

If you’re looking for inspiration to figure out what to do with those bags of pretty apples on your counter. I have you covered with these blondies!

Not that there aren’t plenty of other ways to enjoy them – like Caramel Apple Dessert Pizza, Baked Apple Fritters, Apple Streusel Pie, or these Apple Oatmeal Cookies!

Blondies are one of the quickest baking ideas for apples and they’re amazingly soft and chewy with a perfect cinnamon flavor to compliment the apples.

Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting

These are simple to make as they have a pretty standard blondie base.

They’re extra easy because it starts with melted butter and everything else is simply stirred in from there. No butter and sugar to cream together and the melted butter makes them extra chewy.

Whisk the dry ingredients and then gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet and add the apple and pecans if desired.

Apple Blondies Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large microwave-proof bowl, melt butter. Beat in sugar and eggs until fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder.
2. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. Gently fold in apples and pecans, if desired. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
3. Frost with the warm frosting about 2 minutes after they come out of the oven. Let cool completely before cutting.

Brown Sugar Frosting Recipe

While the blondies are in the oven, you’ll make the brown sugar frosting.

Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and salt, heat until bubbly and let bubble for about 2 mins.

Add the milk and cook for another 30-60 seconds until no longer grainy. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.

You will frost the blondies immediately when they come out of the oven. These bars are so good they don’t need the brown sugar frosting at all, but they are prettier with it and it adds an extra layer of flavor and sweetness.

These blondies are the perfect dessert for a simple fall meal. Perhaps a meal of sausage and spaghetti squash casserole or a BBQ Meatloaf.

Easy Apple Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting

5 from 4 votes

These easy Apple Blondies are packed full of delicious fall apple flavors in a soft, cinnamon blonde brownie.

Pin Print Review

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Additional Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 24 bars

Ingredients 

For the blondies

• ▢ 1 cup butter
• ▢ 2 cups granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs, room temperature
• ▢ 2 cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 2 tsp cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tsp baking soda
• ▢ 1 tsp baking powder
• ▢ 2 cups apples, finely diced
• ▢ 1 cup chopped pecans, optional

For the brown sugar frosting

• ▢ 1/4 cup butter
• ▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoons milk
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• ▢ 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Blondie Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large microwave proof bowl, melt butter. Beat in sugar and eggs until fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. Gently fold in apples and pecans, if desired. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Frosting Directions

• While they are baking, make the brown sugar frosting. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and salt, heat until bubbly and let bubble for about 2 mins. Add the milk and cook for another 30-60 seconds until no longer grainy. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Add more milk if necessary to thin it out.
• Frost the bars with the warm frosting about 2 minutes after they come out of the oven. Let cool completely before cutting.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar · Calories: 236kcal · Carbohydrates: 37g · Protein: 1g · Fat: 10g · Saturated Fat: 6g · Trans Fat: 1g · Cholesterol: 26mg · Sodium: 150mg · Potassium: 34mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 28g · Vitamin A: 304IU · Vitamin C: 1mg · Calcium: 22mg · Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @chocolatewithgrace or tag #chocolatewithgrace!

{originally published 11/1/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/6/21}

Here are some of my other favorite fall apple recipes:

Caramel Apple Crumb Bars

Apple Dumpling Bake

Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie