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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Blondies with Brown Butter Frosting

salted caramel apple blondies - featured image
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These cozy salted caramel apple blondies feature tender apples, gooey caramel pockets, and a nutty brown butter frosting, making a comforting and indulgent dessert perfect for fall and winter.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup peeled and diced fresh apples (preferably Granny Smith)
  • ½ cup (120ml) salted caramel sauce
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter (for frosting), browned
  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30-45ml) whole milk or cream (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, stir melted unsalted butter with brown sugar until well blended. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and glossy.
  4. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until no streaks remain; avoid overmixing.
  5. Fold in the peeled and diced apples. Dollop the salted caramel sauce on top and gently swirl with a knife or skewer to create gooey pockets.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.
  7. Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden and set but the center still jiggles slightly. A toothpick inserted should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
  9. To make the frosting, brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, swirling until it foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and cool slightly.
  10. In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Slowly add the warm brown butter and 2 tablespoons milk or cream, beating until smooth and creamy. Add more milk if needed for spreadable consistency.
  11. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled blondies. Optionally drizzle more caramel sauce or sprinkle flaky sea salt on top.
  12. Use the parchment overhang to lift the blondies out of the pan. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

Use a light-colored pan to brown butter to avoid burning. Do not overmix the batter to keep blondies tender. Let blondies cool completely before frosting to prevent melting. For a crunch, toss apples in cinnamon before folding in. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days. Frost just before serving if made ahead. Can freeze unfrosted blondies for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: blondies, salted caramel, apple dessert, brown butter frosting, fall dessert, easy blondies, caramel blondies, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-blondies-recipe-easy-brown-butter-frosting/