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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Brown Butter Apple Spice Blondies

Brown Butter Apple Spice Blondies

Make these when you want something cozy!

By Leah PerezPublished: Jan 3, 2026
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Yields:
16 - 20 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 25 mins
brown butter apple spice blondies
C.W. Newell

If you're craving a cozy treat, these soft and chewy brown butter apple spice blondies are just the thing. Browned butter and brown sugar create a rich, caramel-forward foundation, while applesauce keeps the bars tender and moist. A little pie spice—along with crunchy nuts and white chocolate—takes them to the next level! This is one of those dessert bar recipes that's quick to mix together by hand, easy to share, and perfect for everything from casual potlucks to school lunch ideas. Serve them warm with a cup of coffee or enjoy them straight from the pan—you really can’t go wrong.

Here are some more apple recipes that are perfect any time of year!

Do you need to let brown butter cool before baking blondies?

Yes. Because this is a simple stir-together recipe, it can be tempting to move straight ahead without cooling the butter. However, it’s important to let brown butter cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before using it. Butter that’s still hot can melt the sugar, scramble the eggs, or throw off the texture of the batter. Allowing it to cool ensures the ingredients combine smoothly and helps the finished blondies bake up evenly textured, rather than greasy or dense.

What can you mix into brown butter apple spice blondies?

These blondies are delicious as is, with white chocolate chips and walnuts folded into the batter, but they’re also easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins. Try swapping the walnuts for pecans, cashews, or even peanuts for a different texture and flavor. If you want a more classic twist, replace the white chocolate chips with butterscotch chips or semisweet chocolate chips for a warmly spiced, chocolate chip–style cookie bar.

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Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) salted butter
  • Cooking spray, for the pan
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. apple pie spice
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions

    1. Step 1In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately transfer the butter to a large heatproof bowl and swirl a few times to stop the browning. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
    2. Step 2Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Coat the parchment paper with cooking spray.
    3. Step 3In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, apple pie spice, salt, and baking soda.
    4. Step 4Stir the brown sugar into the brown butter. Add the applesauce, vanilla, and eggs, and stir until smooth. Stir in the flour mixture, being careful not to overmix. Fold in ½ cup of the white chocolate chips and ½ cup of the walnuts, if using. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Scatter the remaining ¼ cup white chocolate chips and ¼ cup walnuts over the top, if using.
    5. Step 5Bake until the blondies are set and lightly golden brown on top, 32 to 35 minutes. Let the blondies cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Use the parchment paper to lift out the blondies to a cutting board and cut into 20 bars.

Tip: Store the blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, wrap the cooled blondies tightly in plastic and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or warm individual bars in the microwave for about 10 seconds to bring back their soft, chewy texture.  

Love This Recipe? Try One Of These Next!

  • Blondies Are Buttery, Soft, and Easy to Bake
    50 mins
  • Blondie Ice Cream Sandwiches
    6 hrs
  • Applesauce Cake
    2 hrs 30 mins
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