Apple Cinnamon Brownies (Apple Cinnamon Blondies)

These apple cinnamon brownies are super easy and perfect for fall. Indulge in thick, caramelly bars with apples, pecans, and cinnamon. Just imagine the aroma!

Get the best of both worlds with the ultimate autumn treat: apple cinnamon brownies.

Experience the cozy flavors of fall in thick, chewy bars that will have you swooning with every bite. You’ll get the warm and delightful aroma of cinnamon and the familiar sweetness of apples wrapped up in a caramelly brownie with crunchy pecans.

It’s time to switch things up and make a fall dessert recipe beyond apple pies and cinnamon rolls.

But be warned; your kitchen will be covered in a heavenly scent that will surely have your loved ones curious about what you’re baking. ?

What Are Apple Cinnamon Brownies?

Apple cinnamon brownies are fall-inspired delights guaranteed to make you fall in love.

If you can’t decide what dessert to have because you’re craving both apples and cinnamon, put your apple pie recipe and cinnamon roll recipe on hold because this treat offers the best flavors of both worlds.

What exactly are apple cinnamon brownies?

Apple cinnamon brownies or apple cinnamon blondies, whatever you want to call them, are thick, chewy bars made with apple chunks, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, and brown sugar to give them that irresistible caramel undertone.

I know it can be confusing to find a brownie recipe made without cocoa, so it’s not surprising why these apple brownies are also called apple blondies by other people. But guess what?

You can call these tantalizing treats whatever you want! Whether you’re Team Brownies or Team Blondies, this recipe will help you bake your way into apple cinnamon bliss with the bonus of having fall’s comforting aroma filling your kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fall is the perfect time to indulge in your sweet tooth cravings. But instead of having a slice of apple pie or a cinnamon roll, try these apple cinnamon blondies because they’re:

• Super Easy: Making apple cinnamon blondies is surprisingly easy because the recipe uses mostly common pantry ingredients. I think the only part that requires patience is peeling the apples, but the result is oh-so-worth it!
• Perfect for Fall: If fall is baked into a delectable dessert bar, this is it! Have your kitchen smell like sweet apples and warm cinnamon. And to further capture the season’s essence, why not enjoy these apple cinnamon brownies with a cup of pumpkin spice latte? ?
• Irresistible Pairing: Are regular brownies and blondies too rich for your liking? These apple cinnamon brownies strike the perfect balance with the right amount of sweetness. But here’s the best part: you can easily customize them for an extra indulgent twist, like serving them à la Mode!

What Do Apple Cinnamon Blondies Taste Like?

The best way to describe these apple cinnamon blondies is they taste like fall. After all, they feature two favorites for autumn desserts: apples and cinnamon.

It’s a tried and tested combination that even people who usually get overwhelmed by sweet treats will surely enjoy a piece or two of these apple cinnamon brownies.

On the first bite, you’ll be greeted by juicy apple chunks that you can cut as big as you want if you want extra chunky bars. Then, you’ll get the unmistakable allure of cinnamon with some caramel undertones, thanks to the brown sugar.

These dessert bars are also enjoyable to chew because the pecans add a delightful crunch.

So here’s a tip: make sure to bake thick cinnamon apple brownies so you can appreciate the textures better.

Are Apple Cinnamon Brownies Healthy?

These apple cinnamon brownies can be a healthier choice than your usual store-bought dessert bars loaded with sugars, preservatives, and artificial flavors.

The delightful taste of these apple cinnamon blondies came naturally from sweet apples and ground cinnamon instead of artificial flavors.

Moreover, if you’re looking to make this recipe gluten-free and dairy-free to suit those with dietary preferences and restrictions, you can opt for modifications like using almond flour, coconut sugar, coconut yogurt, and coconut oil instead of all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and butter!

But as with any sweet treat, enjoying these apple cinnamon brownies in moderation is important. Desserts are always more enjoyable in responsible portions. ?

What Are The Benefits Of Apple Cinnamon Blondies?

You’ll be pleasantly surprised how something so easy can taste so complex. You don’t need exotic ingredients or special kitchen tools to whip up these apple cinnamon blondies!

Just don’t be surprised if the batter becomes very thick because that’s expected. You can always use your hands to incorporate the ingredients much more effectively.

Another reason why I’m campaigning for these apple cinnamon brownies to be next fall dessert is that they’re not overly sweet.

You can easily experiment with different additions to this recipe or serve the bars with whatever your taste buds are craving.

Finally, let’s not forget the intoxicating scent filling your kitchen when you make these apple brownies. This recipe is definitely a culinary experience that delights all the senses. ?

Ingredients For This Apple Cinnamon Brownies Recipe

• Butter – What could be better than buttery, caramelly bars with cinnamon and apples?
• Light brown sugar – Gives these apple brownies a delectable caramel undertone.
• Granulated sugar – We’ll use two sugars to achieve the best taste and texture on these apple cinnamon blondies.
• Eggs – To give your apple cinnamon brownies structure.
• Pure vanilla extract – I’m a firm believer that every dessert should use vanilla extract. It’s such a simple flavor that brings out the best in the rest of the ingredients.
• Ground cinnamon – Have your kitchen smell amazing with this cinnamon dessert. Plus, cinnamon just goes well with juicy apples!
• Salt – Adding salt to this sweet treat balances everything out. You can also swap the unsalted butter with a salted one. 
• Baking powder – This will ensure that your brownie batter will rise and give you soft, cakey bars.
• All-purpose flour – Like with any baked recipe, don’t forget to measure your flour correctly!
• Apples – You can use different apples to give your apple cinnamon brownies more depth. For example, combine Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples!
• Pecans – Adds a delightful crunch to the thick and chewy bars.
• Sugar – Make sure to have extra sugar for the cinnamon-sugar topping on these blondies.
• Ground cinnamon – We’ll finish the apple brownies with more cinnamon flavor and aroma using a cinnamon-sugar topping.
• Non-stick baking spray – To keep your batter from sticking.

Tools Needed To Prepare Apple Cinnamon Brownies

• Baking dish for cooking the batter
• Parchment paper for lining the baking dish
• Mixing bowls for combining the ingredients
• Hand mixer for mixing the batter
• Mixing spoon for mixing the batter
• Offset spatula for keeping the batter even
• Toothpick for checking if the brownies are done
• Knife for slicing the brownies and other ingredients

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Apple Cinnamon Brownies

Ground nutmeg

Cinnamon and nutmeg on desserts just taste so cozy and comforting. Feel free to add a teaspoon of ground nutmeg to your apple cinnamon brownie batter!

Ground cardamom

Another spice that you can add to these apple cinnamon blondies is cardamom. I was inspired by an apple pie recipe I saw, so I thought, why not try the combo on these apple brownies?

The result? Absolutely delicious!

And if you love desserts that will leave your kitchen smelling amazing, I have another recipe for you. Try our chai-spiced sugar cookies, which are also perfect for cozy fall afternoons.

Almond extract

This super easy recipe already tastes complex, but to make your bars more interesting, consider adding some almond extract to the batter. You’ll be surprised how this one element enhances the overall flavor of the apple blondies.

How to Make Apple Brownies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp salt
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups apples, peeled and diced
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 ½ tbsp sugar for topping
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon for topping
• Non-stick baking spray

Tools you need:

• Baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer
• Mixing spoon
• Offset spatula
• Toothpick
• Knife 

Instructions:

STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. 

STEP 2: Grease your baking dish with a non-stick spray and line it with parchment paper. Make sure you have overhangs on the sides of the baking dish. 

STEP 3: Mix the sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.

STEP 4: In a separate bowl, beat your melted butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Then, add the eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder to the creamed butter and mix until creamy.

STEP 5: Stir in the flour to the wet mixture. Combine everything with your electric mixer, then use a large spoon to mix the batter. It should be very thick.

STEP 6: Add the apples and mix into the batter.

STEP 7: Stir in the chopped pecans. You can use your hands to mix the batter thoroughly. 

STEP 8: Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and even it out with an offset spatula. 

STEP 9: Top the blondie batter with your cinnamon-sugar mixture earlier.

STEP 10: Bake your apple cinnamon brownies for 45 minutes. Adjust the baking time as needed. You can insert a toothpick in the center of the brownies, and if it comes out clean, it’s done. 

STEP 11: Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow it to cool before slicing. 

What To Serve With Apple Cinnamon Blondies

Because these apple cinnamon brownies are not overly sweet, they pair flawlessly with various accompaniments. Imagine having these bars with a latte or vanilla ice cream as a reward after a busy day.

However, two recipes immediately came to mind if you want to make these apple brownies extra special. Try our banana granola and salted caramel milkshake!

This luscious trio is just perfect for each other, and to be honest, the flavors and textures give off a cafe-like experience.

Tips About Making Apple Cinnamon Blondies

Making these apple bars is oh-so-simple, but you might be wondering how to know when they’re done or what to do if they come out too dry or too moist. I got you:

• To know if your apple cinnamon blondies (or brownies, whatever you want to call them) are done, do the toothpick test or check if they have already pulled away from the sides of the baking dish.
• Did your apple cinnamon brownies end up being too moist? You might be using too many apples. Be careful not to overbake them as well because you’ll get dry apple brownies!
• Want an easy but delicious way to dress up these apple cinnamon blondies? Dust them with icing sugar and drizzle the bars with caramel sauce before serving.

How To Store Apple Cinnamon Brownies

These apple cinnamon blondies are perfect as take-home gifts if you have loved ones over because they keep well at room temperature. Or, for leftovers, you can simply store them in the fridge or freezer.

• Fridge: To preserve the texture of these brownies, especially because they have apples in them, transfer them to an airtight container and consume them within 3 to 5 days.
• Freezer: Once you smell these blondies, I’m sure you and your loved ones don’t need to worry about leftovers because the pan will be finished in no time. But just in case, keep them in a freezer-safe container because they freeze well for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Just thaw your frozen apple brownies overnight and serve them the next day. And if you prefer them warm, microwave the bars for a few seconds.

Do Apple Blondies Need To Be Refrigerated?

You can refrigerate these apple blondies to keep them longer, but they can last up to 2 days at room temperature. Some people also prefer them chilled, so it’s up to you if you want to refrigerate them before serving.

What Is An Apple Blondie?

Apple blondies are thick, chewy bars made with chopped apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The flavors perfectly capture the essence of fall, and the recipe is also easy to customize.

FAQ About Apple Cinnamon Brownies

Conclusion

These apple cinnamon brownies are about to become your new favorite autumn treat.

The recipe is simple, but the bars deliver a complex flavor that will leave you in awe.

Finally, you can indulge in a dessert bar that’s not overly sweet and offers an enjoyable chewy texture with some crunch from chopped pecans.

These apple cinnamon blondies just perfectly capture the cozy combo of apple and cinnamon.

Try them as companions to other desserts!

And if you’re a fan of handheld delights like these apple brownies, try these irresistible recipes:

• Easy Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Recipe
• Delish Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
• Viral TikTok Cinnamon Rolls With Heavy Cream
• The Easiest Peach Cobbler Egg Rolls