Welcome to the enchanting world of fall baking, where the aroma of sweet apples and warm cinnamon fills your kitchen with pure comfort. These delightful Cinnamon Apple Brownies, often affectionately called Apple Blondies or simply Apple Bars, are an absolute must-try. They boast a wonderfully tender texture, infused with the rich, inviting notes of caramel thanks to brown sugar, and generously studded with chunks of fresh, crisp apples. Beyond their exquisite taste, they are incredibly simple to prepare, making them the perfect treat for any occasion. Whether you’re seeking a quick indulgence to satisfy your sweet cravings or a charming dessert to share, these easy apple bars are truly unbeatable.
Imagine biting into a soft, chewy bar, bursting with the natural sweetness of fruit and the comforting embrace of cinnamon spice. These aren’t just any apple desserts; they are a celebration of autumn’s bounty, promising a divine experience with every bite. Their irresistible appeal lies in their perfect balance of flavors and their wonderfully moist consistency, ensuring they’ll become a cherished favorite in your recipe collection.
Why These Cinnamon Apple Brownies Are a Must-Bake
There are countless reasons to fall in love with these versatile and utterly delicious apple bars. Here’s why they deserve a top spot in your baking repertoire:
- Effortless Preparation: This recipe is incredibly straightforward, primarily utilizing staple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. It’s designed for ease, allowing you to whip up a gourmet-tasting dessert without any fuss.
- The Quintessential Autumn Treat: As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, nothing quite captures the essence of fall like a warm, spiced apple dessert. These brownies embody the cozy spirit of the season, making them perfect for harvest gatherings, holiday events, or simply a comforting evening treat.
- Irresistible Flavor Harmony: The magic happens when rich brown sugar and creamy butter combine, creating deep, luscious caramel undertones. This luxurious base perfectly complements the sweet and tart notes of fresh apples, all elevated by the warm, aromatic embrace of cinnamon. It’s a flavor combination that is truly irresistible and deeply satisfying.
Thinking about the vibrant flavors of fall naturally brings to mind classic autumn desserts, and this cherished recipe for Cinnamon Apple Brownies always resurfaces. Just recently, I needed a delightful snack to share with my knitting group, and while apple pie is always a crowd-pleaser, I wanted something more convenient and portable—finger food, to be exact. That’s when I remembered this treasured old recipe for apple brownies. While technically more akin to apple blondies, given the absence of chocolate, their chewy texture and rich flavor profile make the “brownie” label feel perfectly apt.
It took a bit of a treasure hunt through my extensive collection of brownie recipes, but I finally unearthed the sheet of paper I had printed off way back in 2003. This recipe is a testament to timeless deliciousness. If you’re new to the world of blondies, they offer a delightful vanilla-based alternative to their chocolate-rich cousins. For more inspiration, you might enjoy exploring a fabulous roundup of over 100 Blondie Recipes, or perhaps you’re in search of The Best Apple Crisp for another classic apple indulgence.
These Cinnamon Apple Blondies offer a rustic charm and a comforting taste that makes them ideal for sharing. Their robust flavor profile and delightful texture guarantee that they’ll be a hit, no matter how you categorize them. The convenience of a bar cookie, combined with the wholesome goodness of apples and cinnamon, makes them a standout treat. They are easy to transport, simple to serve, and universally loved, ensuring they will disappear quickly from any platter.
Expert Tips for Perfect Apple Bars
Crafting these apple brownies is surprisingly quick and simple. The most time-consuming part of the entire process is simply peeling and chopping the two apples, but even that flies by when you anticipate the delicious results.
- PRO-Tip for Flavor Depth: For a truly exceptional flavor profile, don’t just grab any apples. Use two different varieties of baking apples. For instance, a tart Granny Smith paired with a sweeter Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp can create a wonderful balance of sweet and tangy notes, while also ensuring varying textures in your bar. This combination adds complexity that a single apple type might miss.
- Mind the Moisture: While it’s tempting to load these bars with as many apples as possible, exercise caution. Adding too many apples can introduce excessive moisture, potentially leading to a gummy or soggy texture rather than a perfectly moist and chewy one. Stick to the recommended amount, and if your apples are particularly juicy, you might even pat them dry after dicing.
- The Unsung Hero: Baking Powder: Baking powder is crucial for giving these blondies their ideal lift and texture. However, because it’s not used as frequently as baking soda in many kitchens, it often expires without notice, losing its leavening power. Always check the expiration date on your container before you start baking.
- Quick Baking Powder Test: To confirm your baking powder is still active and ready to work its magic, place a teaspoon of it into 1/3 cup of hot water. If it fizzes and bubbles vigorously, it’s good to go! If there’s little to no reaction, it’s time to replace it. This simple test can save your baked goods from falling flat.
- Perfect Pan Preparation: For easy removal and clean slices, always butter your baking dish thoroughly. For an even smoother process, line the buttered pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. Once cooled, you can simply lift the entire slab of blondies out of the pan before cutting.
- Cooling is Key: While it’s hard to resist digging in immediately, allowing your apple bars to cool completely in the pan is vital. This helps them set properly, making them easier to slice neatly and preventing them from crumbling.
The outcome of following these simple steps is a beautifully moist bar cookie, rich with tender chunks of apple and a deep, underlying caramel flavor from the brown sugar. The subtle warmth of cinnamon ties all these elements together into a harmonious bite. They are utterly impossible to resist and make for a perfect snack, dessert, or a lovely accompaniment to your morning coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Brownies & Blondies
The distinction between brownies and blondies is a delightful point of discussion among bakers, with two main schools of thought. One perspective views blondies as a specific subcategory of brownies—essentially, a “blonde” version. This interpretation perfectly explains why these apple bars might be called “apple brownies,” as they share the chewy, dense texture and bar format of traditional brownies, but without the chocolate.
The other school of thought argues for a clearer differentiation: brownies are characterized by their rich chocolate or cocoa flavor, deep color, and often fudgy texture, while blondies are distinct. Blondies typically derive their flavor from vanilla and brown sugar, resulting in a golden-brown hue and a buttery, often caramel-like taste. They offer a chewiness similar to brownies but with a different flavor profile. Ultimately, whether you prefer to call these delicious treats apple brownies, apple blondies, or simply apple bars, their incredible taste ensures that no one will argue with the name!
Knowing when your blondies are perfectly baked is key to achieving that ideal moist and chewy texture. Similar to brownies, blondies are generally done when their edges begin to pull away slightly from the sides of the pan. The surface should also appear lightly golden brown, indicating they’ve cooked through without over-browning.
A reliable test is to insert a toothpick into the very center of the bars. When the blondies are fully baked, the toothpick should come out clean, perhaps with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, but no wet batter. It’s crucial not to overbake your blondies; otherwise, they will lose their signature moistness and become dry and crumbly. A slight wobble in the center is usually a good sign that they are just right, as they will continue to set as they cool.
Absolutely! These apple bars store beautifully, allowing you to enjoy them for days. Once completely cooled, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you want to extend their freshness, especially if your kitchen is warm, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. For longer storage, they freeze exceptionally well. Wrap individual bars or the entire slab tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave before serving.
You May Also Like These Delicious Bar Cookie Recipes:
- Turtle Shortbread Bars from Pint Sized Baker
- How to Cut Perfect Cookie Bars: A helpful guide for achieving bakery-perfect slices.
- Homemade Samoa Bars: Recreate your favorite cookie in bar form.
- Best Lemon Bars Recipe: A classic bright and zesty treat.
- Caramel Apple Toffee Bars: Another fantastic apple-infused bar, packed with caramel and toffee goodness.
- More Delicious Bar Cookies: Explore a wide array of easy-to-make bar cookies for every taste and occasion.
Stay in touch and share your culinary creations with me through social media! You can find me @ Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! Your feedback is invaluable, and if you adore the results of these Apple Brownies, please take a moment to give them a 5-star rating in the recipe card below. Happy baking!
Cinnamon Apple Brownies (Apple Blondies)
15 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour
9 bars
A wonderfully moist and tender blondie, generously packed with crisp apple chunks and infused with warm cinnamon – the ultimate fall treat!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ to 2 large apples, peeled and diced (for best flavor, use two different varieties such as Granny Smith and Golden Delicious)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly butter an 8×8-inch baking dish and set it aside. For easy removal, you can also line the dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 20-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean and the apples are tender. The baking time can vary significantly based on the size of your apple chunks and the variety of apples used, so start checking around 20 minutes.
- Allow the apple brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares and serving. This helps them set properly and makes for cleaner slices.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving (estimated):
Calories: 167Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 226mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest