Soft and chewy caramel apple blondies are full of apple chunks, caramel chips, and warm spices. They are best served with vanilla ice cream!
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!
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 made from four, 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!
Making caramel apple blondies
PREP. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, set aside. Peel and core one medium apple and cut it into 1/4-inch chunks.
Note. If you prefer smaller bits, I’d suggest using the large holes on a box grater. Squeeze excess moisture from the grated apple, then coarsely chop it up. My kids prefer baked goods with smaller pieces, however, I’m all about the big juicy chunks!
APPLES. 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.
WET INGREDIENTS. In a microwave safe mixing bowl, add the butter. Melt on half powder 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.
DRY INGREDIENTS. 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.
BAKE. Transfer dough into the prepared baking 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.
COOL + SERVE! Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
CHANGE IT UP!
There are so many ways to do it, but here are a few ideas:
- Add a ¼ cup of rolled oats
- Mix in ¼ cup of chopped toasted nuts
- Swap the caramel chips for white chocolate and add ⅓ cup of Craisins
- Use caramel bits instead of chocolate chips or even Toffee Bits
Recipe Tips
- Apples: 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 or you could even combine the two and use half of each.
- Pumpkin 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.
- Brown Sugar: Use either light or dark brown sugar in this recipe. Either one will yield a delicious result.
- Non-stick: Spray your baking dish with nonstick cooking spray if you don’t happen to have any parchment paper on hand.
Storing Tips
STORE leftovers on the counter top for a few days or covered tightly in your fridge for up to 5 days.
To FREEZE leftover blondies wrap them tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
MORE DELICIOUS APPLE RECIPES:
Caramel Apple Blondies Recipe
Recommended Products
- 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
- 1/2 c. granualted 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 c. caramel chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, 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 powder 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 dough into the prepared baking 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.”