Description
These Frosted Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondie Bars are a delightful twist on classic snickerdoodles, featuring a rich brown butter base swirled with cinnamon and topped with a spiced apple cider glaze. Perfectly chewy with a touch of spice and a sweet frosting, these bars make a crowd-pleasing dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Swirl
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Blondie Bars
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted and lightly browned
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Frosting
- 1/3 cup spiced apple cider, no added sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Flaked sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Make the cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Stir until clumps form, then set aside to use in the bars.
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal later.
- Mix the blondie batter: In a large bowl, beat together the browned butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined. Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt, mixing until just combined without overmixing.
- Assemble the bars: Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture over this layer. Dollop the remaining batter on top and gently spread it out; the cinnamon swirl may peek through, which adds to the rustic look.
- Bake the bars: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the bars are fully set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Prepare the frosting: While the bars bake, bring the spiced apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes or until the cider is reduced to 2-3 tablespoons. Remove from heat, whisk in the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
- Frost and finish: Pour the warm frosting evenly over the baked bars. Let the bars cool and allow the frosting to set for at least 1 hour at room temperature.
- Add the topping: In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Lightly dust the top of the frosted bars with this cinnamon sugar mixture. Optionally, sprinkle a small amount of flaked sea salt for added contrast.
Notes
- Room temperature eggs help to incorporate air into the batter for a lighter texture.
- Lightly browning the butter adds a nutty depth of flavor essential to this recipe.
- Be careful not to overbake; the bars should remain moist and chewy.
- The spiced apple cider glaze adds a unique tang and sweetness – do not skip this step!
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner slicing of bars.
- The frosting should be poured warm to spread easily, but bars should be cooled before serving.
- Flaked sea salt on top balances the sweetness and enhances flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
