Apple Toffee Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting

I’ve had a lot of fun practicing my food photography lately. My colleagues have had even more fun because I bring the goodies to work. Paul asked me last week if every Monday from now on will be Cookie Monday. I told him that’s too much pressure and I can’t work under those circumstances. 🙂

These apple toffee blondies are one of my favorite fall desserts. They are gooey, chewy, and healthy! Healthy because there is one whole apple in the recipe. The original recipe is from Cookies and Cups, which is chock full of great desserts. It’s one of my favorite baking blogs.

Here is the recipe with my very minor adaptations:

Ingredients

       Blondies:

• 2/3 cup room temperature butter
• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup peeled, chopped Granny Smith apple (1 large)
• 1/2 cup toffee bits

       Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°

Spray 9×13 baking pan lightly with cooking or baking spray. Line with parchment paper.

Cream butter and brown sugar in mixer until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on medium until combined. On low, add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined. Stir in the chopped apples and toffee bits until evenly distributed.

Spread in prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes until the center is set. Let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Directions

Brown butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Be careful not to let the butter scorch and burn. Add brown sugar and milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in powdered sugar with a whisk. Let cool until frosting thickens enough to spread. Stir before spreading on top of blondies. Let frosting set for 30 minutes and then cut into bars.

Apples in the morning sun.

Peeling apples is fun.

Apples are one of my favorite things to chop. I like the clean, crisp texture.

Last time I made these, I made my own toffee bits. Today Heath was my friend.

The batter is very thick!

Waiting for everything to cool.

Patience is not one of my virtues.

Excited to use the $2 dessert stand I purchased from Target.