I am fairly good about self-control (said nobody, ever), but every once in a while somebody throws something in my path that sets all my cravings on fire like a match to a bucket of propane.
Something that looks very much edible. Usually shaped like an apple fritter.
Apple fritter was THE donut of choice in our house growing up. In fact, I did not know there was such a thing as “options” at a donut shop until our eighth grade field trip to Florida, where I downed my first–and second, and third, and maybe a fourth–Krispy Kreme. Up until that moment, I always just assumed you walked to the counter of a place with the DONUTS FOR SALE sign, ordered “one of those,” and walked out with freshly-fried apple frittery goodness in a white bakery bag.
It wasn’t until college, when I started buying my own donuts (we had a place next to campus that fried piping hot donuts until 3 AM), that I even learned what an apple fritter was technically called. Which is probably a good thing, since my household has led to some very embarrassing misnomers…
…like calling it Napoleon ice cream for nineteen years instead of Neopolitan.
Also, my mom convinced me I was allergic to chocolate until I was almost in middle school, so I tried to keep “learning” in my house to a minimum. (Just kidding, Mom, I love you.)
Still, my mom must have gone right somewhere along the way, because if I had to choose one food to crave for the rest of my life, it might just be apple fritters. Right up at the top there battling tooth and nail with ice cream–and even then, we could all just invent apple fritter ice cream, brush our hands, and call it a day. There’s something about the crispy, wonderful exterior giving way to a moist, apple-filled center that makes my knees go wobbly and my heart beat wildly.
Well, I’m still not up to the task of deep-frying just yet–I’ll tell you all one day about my first ever experience trying to deep-fry ice cream (let’s just say the burner caught on fire and I ALMOST tried to put out a grease fire with water–whoops)–so I thought I’d go the safe route and make these apple fritter blondies instead. They’re adapted using my very favorite blondie recipe and totally, totally hit the spot. They’re insanely moist from the apples, and that crunchy glaze on top when it cools gives these bars all the texture I miss from my coveted donuts.
It’s been a terrible, horrible, no-good very bad week over here, but the rain’s been cheerful and–what’s more–even writing about these apple fritter blondies a month after I made them has been truly comforting. Happy Monday, and here’s to a week that’s better than the last!
With lots of apple frittery love,
Apple Fritter Blondies
All hail apple fritter blondies! With a perfectly moist, apple chunk-filled cinnamony base and a slightly crunchy glaze on top, these bar cookies will satisfy all those apple fritter cravings when you can't get your hands on one at 3 AM. Never despair--the fritters are here!
Ingredients
For the apple fritter blondie:
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 medium apple, Granny Smith (or your choice)--peeled, cored, and chopped
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk or dairy-free milk of your choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the apple fritter blondie:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together melted butter and brown sugar.
- Mix in egg and vanilla.
- Add flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold into wet ingredients until just incorporated.
- Fold in apple chunks.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 17-23 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out fairly clean with moist crumbs clinging to it. Remove to stovetop and allow to cool completely before glazing.
For the glaze:
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over cooled blondies.
You talking to me?? 😀 What is self-control anyway? Hahaha! These look fabulous, Ala. <3
hahaha agreed, Jhuls–what’s self-control? 😉 have an awesomeeee week, stopping by your blog to say hi now, too!
Ala, I’m sure you don’t mind sharing them with me, right? And cheers to a better week ahead, my friend, or to apple fritter blondies.
Ohhh, you know I would, Linda! Also, look out for an email today 😉 I promise I’ll send you that post, hehe!
Okay these look soooooooooooo decadent. I just can’t look at them. I can’t. LOL
YES while you’re at it PLEASE BLINDFOLD ME TOO, haha!
These look ridiculously good. Oh my word!
Amen, Megan–give it a whirl sometime! 😉
Apple fritters are great! And I dig the fear of frying — not matter how often I do it, I get nervous every time. And always have a fire extinguisher handy. 🙂 Anyway, terrific blondies — thanks.
haha well, I’m so glad I’m not the only one afraid I’ll lose a hand or something, then! And yes, I totally ignored my fire extinguisher that time, even though it was right next to me…panic is unusually unhelpful. Heh!
Oh, my gosh, I have the same weakness. I love, love apple fritters. And your bar version is certainly less intimidating than the deep fried option (though my fires are usually IN the oven :/). Pinning these to my must try board!!! THANK YOU, Ala!!!
WHOO, yes, I knew I liked you for a reason! (Just kidding–but also, seriously.) We can totally make this one happen. Cheers to fritters without frittering, dearest Liz!
You are a girl after my own heart! I LOVE apple fritters. There’s just nothing better than those pockets of apples with crackly sweet glaze. These look so darn good! I wish I had a plate in front of me right now.
Yes yes YES–I am pretty sure I go weak at the sight of an apple fritter more often than at anything else. We are totally two birds of a feather–you’d loooove these bars in that case, Courtney! Cheerios!!
Life is way to short to give up desserts! These voluptuous Apple Fritter Blondies are just dazzling with sweet goodness and a perfect example of sweets worth every last calorie.
Yes’m, it most certainly is, Deb! You and I are totally on the same wavelength 😉 cheers to you, and have a very great week!!
Aside from cinnamon twists, apple fritters are my absolute favorite donut, but that might be because my favorite donut shop doesn’t make apple fritters (*cry*). If they did, all bets would be off! Seriously, though, these sound all kinds of awesome. Apple fritters and blondies? I die.
OOH, I don’t think I’ve ever even tried cinnamon twists before–what a loss! I’m definitely going to try one next time I step into the shop now, thanks for planting the thought in my nefarious little always-hungry brain, Joy! 😉 Haaaappy Thursday to you!
I didn’t have any donut that wasn’t from Dunkin Donuts until I was VERY old, so apple fritters weren’t on my radar until recently either. I think I might prefer them in blondie form, though…
YES GIRL. I KNEW I LIKED YOU FOR A REASON. 🙂 you’ll love these, trust me, Joanne.
Woah. I actually had to take a deep breathe just then and remind myself not to eat my screen.
Damn.
No self-control when it comes to absolutely gorgeous desserts like this 😀
Come to Sydney and bake for me please?
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Ummm only if you return the favor and show me all the delicious food sights you’re always nomming at!! 😀
These blondies are amazing, Ala! LOVE the idea of combing apple fritters with blondies- so delish!
I knowwww, talk about like–mind blown! 🙂 have a great week, Jess!!
I do think I’m rather good at self-control, however all bets are off around these blondies! I love blondies and I love apple fritters – dangerous combo!!
Hehe–ditto! This and ice cream. Kill me now (with a spoon so I can eat too, though).
My mom would DIE for these!! Love this!
As would mine–haha thanks, Dorothy! Have a lovely, lovely week!
Soooo drool-worthy! I get scared of deep frying too, I can only use deep fryer appliances where you just have to lower the basket in (and then violently jump back to the other side of the room, in case something scary happens)
Haha! Yes, I’m exactly the same way. I once had a frying mishap that almost sent my kitchen up in an inferno of grease fire goodness. So now I’m always super, super careful (and scared!).
[…] Apple Fritter Blondies from Wallflour Girl Normally I hate when people put periods as emphasis, but come on. Apple. Fritter. Blondies. Apple fritters are the hubs’ donut of choice, and I’ve been in love with blondies ever since I discovered them (sadly, very late in life). Basically, these are my marriage in a baking pan, and I can’t believe Ala thought of it before I did. Actually, I can. […]