Loaded with double the apple flavor, these Caramel Glazed Apple Butter Blondies are a real fall treat!
‘Tis the season for apple picking guys, so grab your basket and get pickin’, because have I got a delicious fall dessert for you!
I had another yummy dessert all lined up for today, but then these Caramel Glazed Apple Butter Blondies happened and well…GAME OVER!
I was at the market a few days ago and came across a display of apple butter from a local farm. I couldn’t resist grabbing a jar. If you aren’t familiar with apple butter, it’s a highly concentrated form of applesauce. It’s fall in a jar! It’s thick and creamy and goes perfectly mixed in with your morning oatmeal, on your fall cheese board, or as a spread on sandwiches.
And it was the perfect addition to these blondie bars. They’ve got a double dose of apple flavor, the apple butter and chopped honeycrisp apples. I knew I needed to share the recipe ASAP because it’s prime apple picking season. I couldn’t leave you folks hanging with an overflowing basket of apples and nothing to make!
I know you’re going to absolutely LOVE these bars. First off, they’re moister than moist! (I know, I went there) You’ll see what I mean when you whip them up for yourself. It’ll be one of the first things that comes to mind. Followed by warm and cinnamony, and apple flavor that’s off the charts!!
And that caramel glaze! Holy moly! It’s buttery and smooth and absolutely decadent. You can drizzle the caramel glaze over the cooled blondies or opt to top the bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and then drizzle away. You decide. Any way you choose, I guarantee it’ll be your favorite new fall dessert! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 2/3 cup apple butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped Honeycrisp apples
- Caramel Glaze:
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang on sides for easy removal. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth and well combined. Add the apple butter, eggs and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the apples. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until pick inserted into center of pan comes out with a few moist crumbs only. Place on wire rack to cool completely. Lift bars from pan by overhangs and cut into bars.
- Caramel Glaze: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Slowly add the heavy cream and salt. Bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes. Drizzle over bars or atop ice cream.
Chris Scheuer
Oh my! Amazing! Apples and caramel are a match made in heaven, for sure!
Mary Ann
These are going to be my go to bars for fall Chris! That apple butter amps up flavor!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I gotta get some apple butter and these blondies!! Girl, they look and sound fabulous!! I can pretty much guarantee that I’m gonna love them just from your pics and description. And that caramel glaze? Stop it! So good! Pinned and putting on the baking menu soon :) XOXO
Mary Ann
Yay!! You won’t be disappointed Dawn! The apple flavor of these blondies and that caramel sauce is amazing together! I immediately needed to share! They were too good not too! Thanks for pinning! Happy weekend!
Gaila
Oh Mary Ann, this is perfection in a plate! yumm.. Is it wrong to have this for breakfast?? Have a nice day!
Mary Ann
Thanks Gaila! We think alike! I just had a small piece with my morning coffee!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I’ve got tons of apples to use up so this recipe is definitely on the list! It looks so scrumptious!
Mary Ann
Go grab those apples Kathy and get baking! This one’s a total winner!
2pots2cook
If I could have one, just one single, tiny, small, petite, piccolo, skinny look at your creations’ resources, I would probably be in Heaven ! With you !
Mary Ann
Lol! How sweet are you?! Thanks!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
We are apple butter twinning, Mare!! Apple butter is so dang good, its hard not to put in all the things! These blondies look INSANELY delicious!! Like, please send napkins because my keyboard is covered in drool type of insane!! These are an absolute must make for the weekend!! Pinned! Cheers! xoxo
Mary Ann
I had to share these ASAP Chey because honestly, they were amazing! That caramel sauce? You’re gonna want to drizzle it on anything and everything! So much fabulous apple flavor in these bad boys!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Today must be apple day! Actually, the next few weeks will be apple weeks! So many delicious things we can do with apples and these blondies are a prime example! Love them! Pinned!
Mary Ann
Yes! Totally went gaga over your crostini Annie! That will be served at my next fall cocktail party! Hope you enjoy these! XO
rebecca | DisplacedHousewife
I am loving this combination of flavors Mary Ann — so good and so dang creative!! I love it. And I can’t thank you enough for the donuts in Charlestonn — meant so much to me!! Only thing that would have been better is if you would have been there!!! xoxo
Mary Ann
These are soooo fall and sooo delicious Rebecca! That apple butter pushes them over the top in apple flavor. And that caramel glaze, OMG! You’ll love it. So glad you enjoyed the donuts! Wish I could have been there too. We’ll get to meet one day! Can’t wait!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
Love all that apple flavor and that gorgeous glaze! Pinned!
Mary Ann
Oh, these are total winners Karen! I hope you try them. Just made another batch that I’ll be sharing with neighbors! Happy weekend!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Forget my oatmeal, a few of these bars are alllll I want for breakfast right now. Oh em gee, you’ve outdone yourself, Mary Ann! Have a great weekend!
Mary Ann
Thanks Kelsie! I think one of these would be perfect for breakfast!
Matt Robinson
I am mesmerized by these! We plan on apple picking soon so these need to be made here. Imagining the smell of the house now
Mary Ann
Oh, I really hope you make them Matt! They were so delicious. Have fun apple picking!
CakePants
Oh gosh, these look ridiculously delicious!!! Everything about these looks perfect for fall (and I love that sweet scallop-edged plate!).
Mary Ann
Thanks Mara! I have to say, they are really perfect for fall and so delicious! I shared with friends because I was afraid I’d eat the whole pan myself!
Lindsay Cotter
blondies are my fav!! These look amazing. love the apple butter. WHOA friend, so creative
Mary Ann
Mine to Lindsay. Thanks so much!
Marissa
These look ooey gooey delicious, Mary Ann! They have apple butter in them so totally a reasonable breakfast, right?
Mary Ann
Why of course!
Natasha @ Salt & Lavender
You’re so good at desserts! These are perfect for fall.
Mary Ann
Mwah! Thanks Natasha! I’m in love with apples this fall!
Michele @ Bacon Fatte
Oh my goodness… That glaze! And the apples + blondies… I couldn’t be left alone with these. Pinned and sharing this deliciousness!
Mary Ann
These are all that and more Michele! They are quite dangerous! Thank goodness for my neighbors and friends!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
I’m going crazy for all things apples right now! I went picking this week so I got a big old bushel to get thru. And these blondies are going on the to-make list! Yay! Enjoy your weekend, Mary Ann!
Mary Ann
Woo hoo!! You’re going to love them Liz! Hope you have an awesome weekend too!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I’m all about the baking with apples in the Fall, so I’ll definitely be trying these! Loving the apple butter and that caramel glaze!
Mary Ann
The apple butter really amps up the flavor Jennifer! And don’t even get me started on that glaze! I could have eaten it by the spoonful! These blondies are why stretchy pants were invented!! LOL!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
Oh my goodness… apples, apple butter and caramel? Holy Cow Mary Ann! No wonder you just fast forwarded this one to us! Gah! It’s got all the fall goodies… I think I’ve been dreaming of these all my life!
Mary Ann
It’s such a yummy combo Traci! Fall goodies are the best aren’t they?! Happy Weekend love!
Leigh Ann
I’m loving everything about these and that glaze looks to die for! I so wish we had apple picking in Texas!
Mary Ann
I wish you did too Leigh Ann! That glaze is perfect over ice cream too.
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes
I have never heard of anything as decadent as apple blondies :D. I need to lay my hands on this apple butter soon! As if the blondies weren’t crazy enough, there is this sweet caramel sauce that’s making things even better!
Mary Ann
I hope you can find some Deepika. You can also make homemade apple butter if you can’t find it. I hope you give these a try!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen
What a great idea to add apples to blondies, Mary Ann. I need to be on the look out for some apple butter – this would be a great treat to make for my fellow workers! Have a great weekend!
Mary Ann
I think you and your co-workers would love them Geraldine! Hope you have an awesome weekend too!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I love apple butter! It feels like the grown-up version of applesauce. I am also a bit of a caramel fiend, so I just know I would love these blondies. What a perfect fall dessert!
Mary Ann
I’m so into apples this fall. Pumpkin is kind of taking a back seat this year! Hope you give these a go!
Jennifer Farley
I am so in love with these!
Mary Ann
Thanks Jennifer!
Cindy
This looks incredible. I love blondies and this seems the perfect combo.
Mary Ann
You’d love these Cindy! They scream fall!
Laura | Tutti Dolci
I’m already in love with these blondies – that caramel glaze is everything!
Mary Ann
I’ll second that! Hard to not eat it by the spoonful!
Thea
These sound delicious! Just a few questions: does one need to peel the apples, can it be doubled for a 9x 13 pan and what do you think about adding pecans or walnuts? Thanks in advance for your help. I can’t wait to make these!
Mary Ann
No, you don’t need to peel the apples Thea. I only tested this recipe for the 9×9 pan. The 9 3-inch bars are a very generous size, so they can be cut into smaller portions. You can absolutely add some pecans or walnuts. Either would be delicious. I would probably add 1/2 or 1 cup of the chopped nuts.
Beth
Can you make these a day ahead? Need a treat for church. They look amazing!
Mary Ann
Hi Beth. Yes, you can make these ahead of time. Just cover and store at room temperature. Enjoy!