Brown Butter Maple Apple Blondies Recipe
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups apples, peeled and finely diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the Butter. Place the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, then continue to cook it while whisking constantly. The butter will foam, then settle, and eventually, you will see small brown bits at the bottom. Once it smells nutty and looks amber in color, remove it from the heat immediately and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Preheat and Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal later.
- Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Whisk until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until the mixture is well-combined and slightly lightened in color.
- Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the blondies tough.
- Step 5: Fold in Apples and Nuts. Gently fold in the diced apples and the chopped nuts if you are using them. Ensure the apples are evenly distributed throughout the thick batter.
- Step 6: Bake the Blondies. Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. The center should still feel slightly soft.
- Step 7: Cool and Slice. Allow the blondies to cool completely in the pan. This is crucial for them to set properly. Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift them out and slice them into 16 squares.