brown butter apple blondies (Print)

Chewy bars blend brown butter and apples for rich, cozy squares. Serve warm for a comforting sweet bite.

# Components:

→ Blondies Base

01 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter
02 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
06 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Apple Filling

10 - 1 large crisp apple, peeled, cored, and diced (about 1 cup)
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Optional Add-In

14 - 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans or walnuts

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until the butter foams and develops a golden brown color with a nutty aroma, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
03 - In a medium bowl, toss diced apple with lemon juice, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together packed light brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cooled brown butter until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until fully combined.
05 - Sift in all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Stir gently until just integrated; avoid overmixing.
06 - Fold the apple mixture and chopped nuts (if using) into the batter until evenly distributed.
07 - Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center emerges with moist crumbs.
08 - Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, lift out using parchment overhang and cut into 16 squares.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Uses basic pantry ingredients you already have on hand
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish
  • Extra rich from nutty browned butter and perfectly spiced apples
  • Easily adaptable with add-ins like nuts or swaps like pears
02 -
  • Great source of cozy fall flavors for any occasion
  • Keeps well for several days and stays chewy
  • Easy to customize with mix ins like nuts or even white chocolate
03 -
  • Finely chopping the apples helps prevent sogginess
  • Extra cinnamon on top before baking creates a pretty look
  • Letting the bars cool fully helps them slice neatly and hold their shape
  • Always brown the butter until it smells nutty and looks toasty This is where the magic starts Let your eggs come to room temperature before mixing for easier blending Do not overmix after adding flour for a classic fudgy texture I like to underbake by just two minutes for extra gooeyness If you want clean slices chill the blondies briefly before cutting

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