Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Maple Glaze

Name: Brown Butter Apple Blondies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter; 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar; ¼ cup apple butter; 2 large eggs; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; ¼ tsp ground nutmeg; ½ tsp salt; 2 medium apples, peeled & sliced thin; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon; 2 tbsp browned butter; 3 tbsp maple syrup; ½ cup powdered sugar

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These brown butter apple blondies are the kind of treat that makes your whole kitchen smell like fall. They’re thick, chewy, and swirled with spiced apples, but it’s the brown butter and maple glaze that take them over the top. Every bite is soft in the center, golden on the edges, and dripping with that warm, cozy flavor you crave as the leaves start to fall.

Ingredients

For the blondies
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
¼ cup apple butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt

For the apple topping
2 medium apples, peeled & sliced thin
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

For the maple glaze
2 tbsp browned butter
3 tbsp maple syrup
½ cup powdered sugar

How to Make Brown Butter Apple Blondies

Brown the butter

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it smells nutty and turns golden with little brown bits at the bottom. Set aside to cool slightly

Butter cubes melting and foaming in a pan, the first step to making brown butter apple desserts.

Mix the base

Whisk the brown sugar into the butter. Stir in apple butter, vanilla, and eggs until smooth

Glass bowl with eggs and brown butter mixture, surrounded by apples and mums, featuring recipe steps for brown butter apple bars.

Add dry ingredients

Gently fold in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until just combined

Dry flour added to a brown butter sugar mixture in a clear glass bowl, ready to be mixed for brown butter apple bars.

Prep the apples

Toss the thin apple slices with brown sugar and cinnamon until nicely coated

Chopped apples in a glass bowl topped with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for brown butter apple bars.

Want a second apple dessert to serve with these? Try our apple pie cheesecake brioche buns
they’re pillowy, creamy, and such a fall vibe.

Assemble and bake

Line a square baking dish with parchment. Spread in the batter. Arrange the apple slices over the top and press in slightly

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35 to 40 minutes. The center should look just set

Cinnamon-coated apples layered over brown butter batter in a parchment-lined baking dish.

If you’re baking these for a fall brunch, pair them with a warm mug of caramel spiced apple cider it’s like sipping autumn.

Make the maple glaze

While the bars bake, brown 2 tablespoons of butter again. Whisk it with maple syrup and powdered sugar until creamy

Glaze and slice

Drizzle the glaze over cooled bars. Let it soak in. Then slice into thick chewy squares

Freshly baked brown butter apple bars on parchment with cinnamon glaze drizzle and apples in the background.

Tips and Tricks

Don’t skip browning the butter
Use crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady
Want extra crunch? Add chopped pecans or walnuts
Let them cool completely before slicing

Looking for another tender apple bake? You’ll fall in love with our apple crumb cake it melts in your mouth.

Variations

Swap in pear butter for a twist
Add a dash of clove for deeper spice
No glaze? Dust with powdered sugar instead

FAQ

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend

Do I need to peel the apples?

We recommend it for a softer bite, but it’s up to you

How long do they last?

Store in an airtight container for 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months

You Might Also Love

Make it a full cozy night and add our apple pie cheesecake brioche buns to the dessert tray
Serve with a warm mug of caramel spiced apple cider for a full fall vibe
If you’re craving more comfort, our apple crumb cake is soft, cinnamon-rich, and so easy

Whip up a batch, wrap them in parchment, and gift your neighbors or just keep them all to yourself. These bars taste like your favorite cozy sweater in dessert form

Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Maple Glaze

Table of Contents

Ingredients