Brown-Butter Gala Apple Blondies with Maple Glaze

Serves 6 · 15 min prep · 25 min cook

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 large Gala apple
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 to 2 tsp milk

Instructions

1. 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides.
2. 2Melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, swirling often, until it turns amber and smells deeply nutty with brown bits on the bottom, 4 to 6 minutes. Pour into a mixing bowl and cool 3 minutes.
3. 3Whisk brown sugar into the warm brown butter until smooth and glossy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until the mixture looks emulsified and slightly thickened.
4. 4Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir just until no dry streaks remain; the batter will be thick.
5. 5Peel and finely dice the Gala apple into 1/4-inch pieces so they distribute evenly and bake through. Fold the diced apple into the batter.
6. 6Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
7. 7Bake 22 to 26 minutes until the edges are golden brown, the center is set, and a toothpick inserted near the middle comes out with a few moist crumbs.
8. 8Cool the blondies completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 45 minutes.
9. 9Whisk powdered sugar with maple syrup and just enough milk to make a thick but pourable glaze.
10. 10Drizzle the glaze over the cooled slab, let it set 10 minutes, then lift out and cut into six bars. Store airtight.