Apple Blondies w/ Brown Sugar Frosting | Best of Bridge Home Cooking

i absolutely love this time of year.  

the air is crisp, perfect for cuddling. 

leaves have tuned a beautiful array of colours and the ones that have fallen are crunchy and perfect for stomping on.

it also happens to be the perfect season to eat your weight in apples.

roadside stands and farmers markets are bursting with ample apple varieties, and when you have apples you should probably absolutely bake something.

thankfully, i just received my copy of the Best of Bridge Home Cooking in the mail and immediately my eye was drawn to the apple blondies w/ brown sugar frosting.

#itwasfate

if you're canadian, chances are you grew up with your mom and grandma baking from these cookbooks.  Best of Bridge recipes are beloved staples at family dinners and a mainstay in canadian kitchens.  

celebrating 40 years now, Best of Bridge is back with a collection of recipes that evoke all the goodness of home cooking.

food that makes you feel good and tastes great.  with 250 recipes, there are dishes for every occasion and meal.  soup for lunch, one-pot dinners and did i mention apple blondies.

i'm a firm believer if you throw fruit into any cake, cookie, pie or bar, you're automatically eating healthy.  right?  okay, well maybe let's just pretend this to be true.
pass me another bar please....
cheers. xo.

Apple Blondies w/ Brown Sugar Frosting

ingredients:
blondie
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped apples
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

brown sugar frosting
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk or cream
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted


method:
blondie |   preheat oven to 350F.  grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until think and smooth, about 3 minutes.  combine flour, baking powder and salt.  add to butter mixture on low speed, mixing until blended.  stir in apples and nuts, mixing well.
spread evenly in prepared pan.  bake until set and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.  let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

brown sugar frosting |  in a small sauce pan over low heat, melt butter.  stir in brown sugar and milk.  bring mixture just to a boil then remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm.  stir in confectioners' sugar, mixing until smooth.
spread evenly over bar.  let stand until frosting is firm enough to cut.  
cut into bars or squares.

makes 20 to 54 bars or squares.

tip:  this frosting is very soft when first mixed, which makes it very nice to spread.  it firms up upon cooling
tip:  choose apples that are crisp, tart and not too  moist.  granny smith, golden delicious and spartans are good choices.


Courtesy of Best of Bridge Home Cooking by The Best of Bridge © 2015 www.bestofbridge.com Reprinted with permission. Available where books are sold.