There’s nothing like Caramel Apple Blondies packed with apple chunks, caramel chips, and warm spices. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat!
With apple season upon us, I know you are going to want to whip up some Stovetop Cinnamon Apples, Apple Crisp, or a Classic Apple Pie. These Caramel Apple Blondies are also sure to become a fall favorite!
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Apple Season Makes Me Happy
A while ago, I shared a recipe for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies. We fell hard for them! While I was shopping for the cinnamon chips, I happened to grab two kinds of caramel chips. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with them, but after looking at our counter full of apples, I knew they were destined for these blondies.
A blondie, or a blonde brownie, is a dessert made from flour, brown sugar, butter, eggs, leavening, and vanilla. They may contain nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, or flavored chips.
These blondies are loaded with sweet, spiced apple chunks, caramel chips, and topped with flakes of sea salt. They are heavenly! If you can’t find caramel chips, you can easily swap them for cinnamon chips or even white chocolate. These Caramel Apple Blondies are a delicious treat perfect for fall!
Why We Love Caramel Blondies
- Caramel Apple Blondies recipe is easy to make.
- Each bite of Caramel Apple Blondies is filled with delicious, gooey caramel chips.
- These Caramel Apple Blondies are wonderfully soft and chewy, with a slight crispness on the edges.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apple Chunks: Juicy and sweet, they add a fresh, fruity flavor and a moist, tender texture.
- Caramel Chips: These provide a rich, buttery sweetness and a gooey texture.
- Cinnamon: This warm spice enhances the fall flavors, adding a cozy, aromatic depth to the blondies.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Homemade Apple Pie Spice: Make your own apple pie spice by combining 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice. You will need ¼ tsp for this recipe.
- Use Pumpkin Spice: Use pumpkin spice instead of Apple Pie Spice. Make your own pumpkin pie spice by combining ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ginger, ⅛ tsp nutmeg, & ⅛ tsp all-spice. This will give you an equivalent to the 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice. You will need ¼ tsp for this recipe.
- Oats Addition: Add a ¼ cup of rolled oats.
- Nuts Addition: Mix in ¼ cup of chopped toasted nuts
- Swap the Caramel Chips: for white chocolate and add ⅓ cup of Craisins; or swap for chocolate chips or Toffee Bits.
- Topping Options: A classic choice is a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which adds a creamy contrast to the chewy blondies. For an extra touch of decadence, drizzle warm caramel sauce or pour melted white chocolate over the top. If you prefer a bit of crunch, sprinkle chopped toasted nuts or toffee bits before serving.
How to Make Caramel Apple Blondies
Step 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Line a 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
Step 2: In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the apples. Heat for 1 minute on half power. Squeeze excess liquid out. Toss in cornstarch and spices. Set aside.
Step 3: In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the butter. Melt on half power for 1-2 minutes or until almost melted. Whisk to completely melt.
Step 4: Add sugars, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat mixture by hand for 30 seconds. Let the batter rest for 30 seconds, then beat again for 30 seconds.
Step 5: Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Using a rubber spatula, mix until combined. Fold in caramel chips and prepared apples.
Step 6: Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Using the spatula, spread the dough into an even layer. Sprinkle the top with additional coarse sea salt if desired.
Step 7: Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cookie bars are set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the baking dish for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
Expert Tips
- Measuring Flour Correctly: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This prevents adding too much flour, which can make the blondies dense and dry.
- Checking Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of the blondies. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, they are done. Avoid overbaking to keep them chewy.
FAQS
Use any kind of apple that you’d like when making these. You can choose a sweet apple like a Gala or a tart apple like a Granny Smith apples, or you could even combine the two and use half of each.
Yes, you can use either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Both will yield a delicious result, with dark brown sugar providing a slightly richer, more molasses-like flavor.
Storage Info
STORE Caramel Blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week. For longer storage, FREEZE the blondies for up to 3 months.
To REHEAT, thaw if frozen, then warm in a 325°F (165°C) oven for 10-15 minutes, or microwave individual pieces for about 20 seconds.
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Caramel Apple Blondies Recipe
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- 9×13 inch pan
Ingredients
- 1 medium apple - peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch chunks
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp. apple pie spice
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 12 tbsp. 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter
- 1 c. brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp. coarse kosher sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 3/4 cup caramel chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Line a 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, and set aside.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the apples. Heat for 1 minute on half power. Squeeze excess liquid out. Toss in cornstarch and spices. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, add the butter. Melt on half power for 1-2 minutes or until almost melted. Whisk to completely melt.
- Add sugars, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat mixture by hand for 30 seconds. Let the batter rest for 30 seconds, then beat again for 30 seconds.
- Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Using a rubber spatula, mix until combined. Fold in caramel chips and prepared apples. Sprinkle the top with additional coarse sea salt if desired.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Using the spatula, spread the dough into an even layer.
- Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cookie bars are set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
After so many failed attempts on blondies, this is the only recipe that worked with me 🥺 Thank you so much. Mine turned out perfectly.
Do you think I could freeze these if I grated the apples and squeezed out the juice?
Absolutely – the post mentions “To FREEZE leftover blondies wrap them tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months.”
Thank you so much for this recipe! Turned out really delicious and fam loves it! Will have it again! Well done! Highly recommended!
These are absolutely delicious! I could eat the entire pan myself! So chewy and full of caramel apple flavor!
Caramel is the perfect way to complete this cinnamon + apple recipe!