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Apple Cinnamon Blondies With Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Apple cinnamon blondies baked until set with moist-crumb tenderness, then topped with a thick swirl of maple cream cheese frosting. Browned butter adds a nutty depth that pairs with diced apples and warm spices in every bite.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For blondies
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 lb unsalted butter, melted and browned
  • 1.5 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cup apples, peeled and finely diced
  • 0.5 cup walnuts (optional)
For maple cream cheese frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 0.25 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Bake the blondies
  1. Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9x13 pan. Add a light coating so the bars lift cleanly after baking.
  2. Brown the butter in a saucepan until golden and nutty-smelling, then cool slightly. Look for amber flecks and a toasted aroma before removing from the heat.
  3. Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Mix until the spices are evenly distributed with no visible clumps.
  4. Whisk the browned butter and brown sugar together, then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Keep whisking until the mixture looks glossy and well combined.
  5. Fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just combined. Stop once no dry streaks remain to avoid a tough crumb.
  6. Fold in the apples and walnuts (if using). The batter should be speckled with apples and walnuts throughout.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. The top should look set and lightly golden.
  8. Cool completely before frosting. This helps the frosting stay smooth instead of melting into the bars.
Make and spread the maple cream cheese frosting
  1. Beat the cream cheese and softened unsalted butter until smooth. The texture should be creamy with no lumps.
  2. Beat in the powdered sugar until the frosting thickens. Scrape down the sides as needed for an even, lump-free swirl.
  3. Beat in the pure maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla until fully blended. The frosting should look smooth and glossy.
  4. Spread the frosting over the cooled blondies. Use gentle pressure so the top is evenly covered with a swirled finish.

Notes

For clean slices, chill the frosted bars for 20-30 minutes before cutting. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days; freeze frosted bars up to 1 month (thaw overnight in the fridge). For a lighter option, use low-fat cream cheese in the frosting for a similar tang with less richness.