Easy Apple Brownies (Apple Bars)
Apple brownies, also known as apple bars or apple blondies, are a satisfying sweet treat. Get your apple fix with this chewy dessert that is chock full of apple and walnut. Spiced with cinnamon, this family friendly apple brownie recipe is a surprisingly great twist on traditional brownies.
I adore desserts made with apples, from soft apple cookies to a tender and moist apple cinnamon bundt cake. But when it comes to simple need to satisfy that 4pm sugar rush, these apple brownies rise to the top of the list, for sure.
What is Apple Brownies?
Apple brownies are an old fashioned apple bar dessert loaded with fresh chopped apples and walnuts (or pecans). They have a look of brownies with crackly top, and they are sliced into a bar shape after baked.
They also often called as apple blondies because of their blonde look. Apple brownies are moist and have a good scent of cinnamon and apple flavor, which makes them a perfect dessert for the fall season. They make an easy dessert ,as apple bars, to carry for parties and family gatherings.
My family loves these apple brownies – or apple blondies, whichever you prefer to call them. As you can tell, they have an irresistible crackly top and the inside crumbs have a cakey texture. Moist and soft, they almost resemble an apple cake, but they have that chewy texture like traditional brownies.
Besides all of that, you will love the nutty walnut and fragrant cinnamon when you bite into a piece. What a taste of autumn! These brownies/blondies make a perfect fall dessert (and winter, too).
This recipe is easy and quick to put together. You only need a few everyday pantry ingredients and 2-3 apples. They make a perfect afternoon snack for children, for family together time, or to satisfy that afternoon craving for something sweet.
Make a batch and you won’t regret it. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away….” What better way to get some apples in your diet?
How to make Apple Brownies
Ingredients you’ll need
- baking apples – I used Granny Smith
- butter – unsalted
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- walnut (or pecan) – chopped
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- salt
Recipe Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Grease 9×13-inch baking pan and/or line with a parchment paper; set aside. Peel and seed the apples and chop them into small pieces.
In an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on a medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy on high speed, about 2 minutes.
Add the chopped apples and walnut and stir by hand.
Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture into the apple mixture and stir to combine.
Pour the batter into the greased and lined pan, and even out the top with a fork. Bake the brownies in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cool the brownies on a wired rack completely. Cut into bars to your desired size.
Serving Idea
You can serve these apple brownie bars as is. If you like to enjoy it as an indulgent dessert, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.
Storage Suggestion
It’s best to consume these apple bars on the day you make them to enjoy the crisp texture on the top. However, they will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. With time, the moisture from the apple pieces will soften the overall texture and your brownies will become chewier, and you will also lose the crackly crisp top.
More Apple Dessert Ideas
If you need an easy and simple sweet indulgence, try my dessert recipes for ideas. Some of my favorite dessert made with apples are;
Easy Apple Brownies (Apple Bars)
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cup peeled, cored and chopped apple , Granny Smith or other baking apples
- 1/2 cup walnut, chopped
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Grease 9×13-inch baking pan and/or line with a parchment paper (optional); set aside.
- In an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on a medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until fluffy on high speed, about 2 minutes.
- Add the chopped apples and walnut (or pecan) and stir by hand.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture into the apple mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour the batter into the greased, and lined pan, and even out the top with a fork. Bake the brownies in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Cool the brownies on a wired rack completely. Cut into bars to your desired size.
Hi,
Found this quite a novel idea So wanna try
if I want to halve the recipe .can a 6x 6 tin and baking for 30 minutes be fine?
If not could you please help me.
6×6 pan sounds a little bit small for the half recipe. But you can try with 25 minutes. Make sure to test and continue baking if it needs more time. Hope you love this treat. It’s delicious!
I made these last night and they turned out delicious! I did a few substitutions: instead of 2 sticks of butter I used only one and then 1/4 cup of coconut oil, I used brown sugar and only one cup. I had a few apples on my fridge that were going bad and I wanted to use them. So I looked up an easy apple recipe that called for ingredients I already had. It was so easy to make, we had a cook out and everyone like it!
Can this be done on a half sheet? Your 9 x 13″ looks like my half sheet. Thanks!
It looks like half sheet pan but it is 9×13 brownie pan. Half sheet would be too big for this recipe unless you double the recipe.
Thanks for replying. I didn’t double the recipe but did 1.5 of it. Its currently baking on the half sheet now. Will let you know how it turns out!
This turned out soo good thank you, sooo yummy but hate that it breaks so easily and crumbly
Can I omit the walnuts and just add extra apples? Will it still taste good? My son has a nut allergy.
Of course! I don’t think you need to add extra apples but a tiny bit more would be okay.
LOOOOOOOOOOOVE Korean Food, in fact, I just made Rice Cake soup and some soybean sprouts with green onions salad.
I am a little surprised to see sweet recipes in your blog, are they really Korean?
I am planning on making this one tomorrow……….
Thanks
Hi Thank you. I will try out the recipe and give it a go at freezing. Will let you know how it turns out…Thanks again
Can these apple brownies be frozen when cooked??
I never froze them before so I can’t assure you how it will be like. However, I think it will freeze okay.
wow this looks awesome! cant wait to try it out ~
i have a slight concern about baking soda, i dont have them and doubt the store around where i am carries them. is it possible to leave baking soda out in this recipe without altering the taste
Hi Mandy
If you skip the baking soda in this recipe, I am afraid that it will effect the outcome. Since there is no proper substitute for Baking soda, I don’t know what to tell you.
I just put my first batch in the oven. I only had one problem. The batter was thicker like a cookie dough. I had to spread it in the pan. There was no way it was going to pour. Looking at your pictures my batter looks very different. Any suggestions as to why? The only thing I can come up with is that the temperature is colder in the house than normal. I hope they still turn out!
Did you use melted butter? If you used room temperature butter, you will get a much thicker batter. I hope it turns out great.
I need to try this. Totally my kind of brownie. Can I use self rising flour instead? I just bought a pack for another dessert recipe and have a ton left…
Yes, you can substitute self rising flour in place of flour and baking powder.
Just made these and although they are too hot to cut, they smell fantastic! I left out the nuts, added extra apples and used Kraft caramel bits…
Adding caramel bits sounds perfect. Hope you liked the brownies.
These brownie bars were super moist and delicious .I decreased the cinnamon and added nutmeg,also 1/2 cup of toffee bits!
Toffee bits are awesome to add in this recipe. Thanks for the idea!
Use apple sauce in place for butter.
could i use shortening or another non-dairy substitute? my husband loves apples but has a dairy allergy…
Some adds apple sauce instead of butter to lower the fat. You can add a little less sugar but not too less because, then, it won't taste good. 🙂
This is soooo yummy!
but I have a question, is there a way to make it less sweet? to cut calories?
I made these for a party this weekend and they turned out great! Thanks so much!
I made these for a party this weekend and they turned out great! Thanks so much!
Ahh, this too! I need to try this! =) I heart your blog so much!
http://www.thelittledandy.com/
<3 <3
Thanks Amy. Hope you get to try it. They are really good.
Thanks for the idea, these look amazing and such a nice change from the usual brownie flavour. Can't wait to bake these 🙂
I made this yesterday, and man, they came out g-o-o-d good! They tasted like something that would be bought in a dine-in restaurant. So delicious! (^_^)
P.S: I didn't have a 9 x 13 pan, so I just baked them in a 9 x 9 pan, and baked it on a lower temperature. Needless to say, it still came out great.
boy am i glad to come across your site.
i never know what to do with apples besides apple pie but brownies are a TON easier
thanks for this recipe – will definitely try it 🙂
http://belleplusmel.blogspot.com
it looks so fantastic! I'm going to try, although looking on the pictures makes me happy already 🙂
Jummy Jummy in my tummy;)
Man, if that smells anything like I imagine it!!!!!!
http://www.sidelinedigest.blogspot.com
Mmmh it looks delicious! Definitely gonna try this myself :]
xo
PurePreciousPerfection.blogspot.com
I love your blog. You have really nice photos and easy to follow recipes. Can't wait to try them.
http://www.go2w.info/
I just made them, and I will really make these again! Lovley! 😀
http://www.goodlifeonearth.blogspot.com
I am glad that it turned out great, Erica. They are moist and even better when you serve with vanilla ice cream!
these turned out really good! i baked this tonight and everyone in my homegroup said they tasted delicious! we had them, still slightly warm from the oven (it was maybe ~1 hour after taking it out of the oven), with vanilla ice cream. yum! thanks so much!
Great recipe! I've never had apple brownies – but it's a terrific idea. You've got some really nice photos in this post; colorful, too. Thanks for this.
that sounds amazing! I'm always used to brownies being well, brown, i.e. chocolatey, but apples sound much healthier!
Thanks, Kat. It is actually somewhat apple cake-like dessert due to its soft crumbs but definitely delicious and easy to make. Hope you can give it a try soon.
Hope it turns out good for you, Erica!
Thanks Stephs. Hope your boyfriend will like it.
I've never seen anything like this before, I love it!! I'm definitely going to save this for later! Thanks for sharing your recipe 🙂
What a delicious and creative recipe! I like this non-traditional take on brownies, and my boyfriend's favorite fruit is apples. I know what I'm baking for Valentine's Day!
oh this looks like the perfect dessert for me to serve at the Bible study I'm hosting next week at my house! thanks for the recipe, Holly! 🙂
Hi Holly – These look so yummy! Apple cake is one of my favorites, and I make it all the time. But these brownies sound so good and easy to make. I will definitely try them.
apple brownies is a smashing idea!