Apple Spice Blondies

The reviews are in on yet another fall-themed apple dessert and there are more than a few sticky thumbs-up in the crowd. Keep in mind there might have been a slight error in tallying the votes as I'm pretty sure a lot of the ladies at girls night were licking their fingers. I know I was constantly licking spoons and stealing apples out of the batter when I was mixing up the dough. Tell me, what is better than apples coated cinnamon-y fall-flavored batter? Nothing? Nothing. That's right - you found my Achilles heel. So anyone who is trying to trick a favor or a slice of cake out of me… use this piece of information wisely.

I came across the recipe when I was trying to look for an alternative to baking a whole apple pie. Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favorite desserts out there and little is more rewarding than seeing a homemade pie emerge from of the oven. But you see people, it's a lot of work and waiting. The dough, the baking… the resisting of eating apples covered in spices and sugar straight out of the mixing bowl. Sometimes a girl just needs a break. Good thing these apple spice blondies are a pretty good pie substitute without sacrificing flavor.

Before I leave you to the recipe, a piece of wisdom: don't ship your sister these blondies 3,000 miles wrapped in only some tin foil and enclosed in a measly flat rate envelope.  It's true, they will show up on her door room stoop flattened like a sheet of paper and virtually inedible.  At least she got a sassy card with the package…

Apple Spice Blondies

Adapted from: Beantown Baker

Ingredients:

• 2 c. plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp allspice
• small pinch ground cloves
• 1/2 c. butter substitute, melted
• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 c. white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 small apples, cored and diced (I used a hodgepodge of apples I picked a few weeks back)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 9x13 pan with foil and baking spray (I doubled the recipe and used one 9x13 and one 8x8 pan because I wanted them to be thicker).
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Whisk to combine well and set aside.
3. In bowl of stand mixer, combine sugars and butter and beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to combine. Add vanilla extract and beat to combine.
4. Turn mixer on slow and fold in flour mixture a little at a time until just combined. Fold in apples.
5. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan.
6. Place in oven and bake until cooked through, when top slightly bounces back to the touch, about 30 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from pan, cutting and serving. Bars will be very soft.