Description
Soft, chewy, and bursting with cinnamon-kissed apple goodness — these Apple Spice Bars are everything you want in a cozy winter treat. Imagine the comfort of apple pie but in a buttery blondie form that comes together in minutes. The rich brown sugar, touch of vanilla, and gentle warmth of nutmeg make every bite pure comfort. Oh, and if you top them with a drizzle of caramel? Game over.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium apple – peeled, cored, and chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon – for tossing the apples
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (about 141 g)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon – for the batter
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg – just a pinch adds that warm spice note
- ½ teaspoon baking powder – gives a light lift
- ¼ teaspoon salt – balances out the sweetness
- ½ cup unsalted butter (112 g), melted
- ¾ cup light brown sugar (156 g), packed
- 1 large egg – for structure and richness
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – the flavor glue that ties it all together
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep
- Start by setting your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang so you can lift the bars out easily later. If you’re skipping parchment, just grease the pan lightly.
- Apple Time
- Peel and core your apple, then chop it into small, bite-sized cubes. You’ll want about ¾ to 1 cup total once chopped. Toss the pieces with ½ teaspoon cinnamon so every bit is coated in that cozy spice. Set aside. (P.S. Don’t go overboard on the apple — too much fruit can make your bars soggy!)
- Mix the Dry Ingredients
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, the remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all the spices blend evenly before meeting the wet ingredients.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients
- Grab a large bowl and whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth and glossy — no butter puddles left behind.
- Next, whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until it all looks silky and uniform.
- Combine Everything
- Now it’s time to bring the two worlds together. Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until you stop seeing streaks of flour. Don’t overmix — that’s how you keep your bars soft and chewy instead of tough.
- Fold in your cinnamon-tossed apples until evenly spread through the batter.
- Bake
- Spoon the batter into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Pop it in the oven and bake for about 22–25 minutes, or until the surface looks set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs).
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting — it’s worth the wait, promise. Once cooled, lift them out using the parchment overhang and slice into perfect squares.
Notes
- Apple Choice: Go for firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady. They stay crisp and flavorful after baking. Avoid soft apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious — they break down too much.
- Want less texture? If you prefer a smoother bite, use grated apple instead of chopped. Peel it first, grate using a box grater, and measure out ⅔ cup.
- No light brown sugar? Use a mix of ½ cup dark brown sugar + ¼ cup granulated sugar. This keeps the flavor balanced without adding too much moisture.
- Doubling Up: Need a bigger batch? Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) pan. Bake time will increase to about 26–28 minutes.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For that fresh-baked feel, warm them for a few seconds in the microwave before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Calories: 231 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg