Description
Delight in these Frosted Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondie Bars, featuring a rich brown butter base swirled with a cinnamon sugar mixture and topped with a spiced apple cider frosting. These bars combine the classic snickerdoodle flavors with a luscious frosting, perfect for sharing or enjoying as a sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
The Cinnamon Swirl:
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Bars:
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter, melted and lightly browned
- 1/2 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 extract
Cinnamon Sugar:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Make the cinnamon swirl. In a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour until clumps form. Set this mixture aside to use later in the bars.
- Prepare the baking dish and preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy removal.
- Mix the bar batter. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the browned butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt, mixing until just combined.
- Layer the batter and cinnamon swirl. Spread half of the batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture over this layer. Then dollop the remaining batter on top and gently spread it out into an even layer; it’s fine if the cinnamon swirl is visible through the top layer.
- Bake the bars. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the bars are fully set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Make the frosting. While the bars bake, bring the spiced apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the cider is reduced to about 2-3 tablespoons, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Frost the bars and finish. Once the bars are out of the oven, pour the warm frosting evenly over the surface. Allow the frosting to set, preferably for at least 1 hour. Before serving, mix ground cinnamon and granulated sugar and lightly dust the bars. Optionally, sprinkle with flaked sea salt for a burst of flavor.
Notes
- Brown the butter carefully until it’s golden and fragrant to enhance the nutty flavor of the bars.
- Using parchment paper in the baking dish makes lifting the bars out easier for cutting.
- Allow the frosting to fully set before slicing to avoid mess.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative and ensure the powdered sugar is vegan-friendly.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 1/16 of recipe)
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 70mg