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A apple blondie with maple cream cheese frosting on a serving plate with apples in the background.
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Apple Blondies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Embodying the essence of fall, these Apple Blondies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting are like biting into a soft yet dense apple cinnamon cake, topped with a subtly sweet maple cream cheese frosting and a delicate dusting of cinnamon. They are the perfect fall dessert or a delightful addition to any brunch spread!
Course brunch, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple Blondie with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rest Time 2 hours
Servings 24 squares

Ingredients

For the Blondies

  • 1 cup butter 2 sticks
  • 2⅓ cups flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1⅔ cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Apples

  • 2 cups apples peeled and chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounce cream cheese, 1 block softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup butter, 1 stick softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon enough for a dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking oil. Then, brown the butter and cook the apples.
    On one burner, in a small saucepan over low to medium heat, start melting the 1 cup of butter for browning. Once the butter is melted, stir constantly (to prevent burning) until it browns slightly. Then, remove the butter from the heat and set the pan aside.
    On another burner, as the butter browns on one burner, cook the apples. Add the peeled and chopped apples and the 1 tablespoon of butter to a large saucepan. Then, over medium heat, cook them for 10 minutes until they are soft and flexible. Remove the pan from the heat, mix 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon with the apples, and set the apples aside until later.
  • Whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon until completely combined.

Make the Blondies

  • Add the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla to a large bowl and mix well with a hand mixer. This will create a thick caramel consistency. Then, with a spatula, fold in the flour mixture. Finally, fold in the cooked apples with cinnamon.
  • Evenly spread the apple blondie batter in the greased baking dish. Bake the blondies for 30-40 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and the middle is firm(not jiggly!). Then, remove them from the oven to cool completely before frosting them.

Mix the Frosting

  • Add the softened cream cheese and softened butter to a medium mixing bowl. With a hand mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter thoroughly. Then, add the powdered sugar and maple syrup to the bowl. Mix those until smooth. Spread the frosting evenly over the apple blondies and sprinkle with a dusting of cinnamon. Lastly, cut into squares and enjoy!