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Apple Cinnamon Blondies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

Apple cinnamon blondies bake up soft and chewy with tender pieces of diced apple, then get topped with creamy maple cream cheese frosting. The blondies cool right in the pan before the frosting is spread on top and they’re cut into squares.
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Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 34 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 54 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Make the blondies
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg large, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp fine salt
  • 1 cup apple peeled, cut into 1/4-inch dice
Make the maple cream cheese frosting
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1.5 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.125 tsp fine salt

Equipment

  • 1 9-inch square baking pan

Method
 

Make the blondies
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch square baking pan; line the bottom and two sides with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
  2. Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar in a large bowl, then whisk in the egg and vanilla until smooth.
  3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.
  4. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture just until no dry streaks remain, then fold in the diced apple.
  5. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 28 to 34 minutes, until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center away from apple pieces comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  6. Cool the blondies completely in the pan, about 1 hour, before frosting.
Make the maple cream cheese frosting
  1. Beat the cream cheese and softened butter in a medium bowl until smooth.
  2. Beat in the powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt until creamy and spreadable.
  3. Lift the cooled blondies from the pan using the parchment.
  4. Spread the frosting evenly over the top.
  5. Cut into 16 squares.

Notes

For clean cuts, make sure the blondies are completely cool before frosting and slicing. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze frosted squares for up to 2 months. For a gluten-free option, use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.