Do you love apple desserts? If so, set your eyes on these apple brownies. This glorious brownie masterpiece is filled with fresh diced apples, crunchy nuts, and warm cinnamon.
These homemade apple brownies are such a treat. Pair with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy. These Chocolate Apple Brownies make an incredible potluck dessert, holiday gathering treat, or dessert to break up the week.
Ingredients Needed
- Butter
- Salt
- Sugar
- Cocoa
- Egg
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Cinnamon
- Apples
- Pecans
How to Make
Full recipe and measurements are in the printable recipe card below. This is a quick walk through of how to make the recipe.
Start by greasing your 9×13 pan and then preheating your oven.
Then in a bowl, you are going to add all your dry ingredients. The flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix until it is combined. Then set the bowl aside.
In a new bowl, you will begin to cream your butter and sugar together.
Add in your egg and then slowly work in the dry ingredients.
Once the mixture is well combined, pour in the apples and fold them in as well as the nuts if you choose to add them.
Pour the brownie in the prepared pan, and bake as directed below in the printable recipe card. Once done, allow the brownies to cool a bit, then slice and serve.
Add some powdered sugar if you like for a little extra texture and sweet taste.
Storage
You will want to allow your brownies to fully cool. Then transfer the brownies into an airtight container. I recommend refrigerating the brownies to help preserve the apples. They can be stored on the counter for 1-2 days. But in the fridge, they will last up to 5 days.
Freezing Brownies – You can also, freeze any brownies you don’t plan to eat. Ha! That’s funny 🙂 as I always plan to eat every bite 🙂 But just in case… slice and then place in a freezer-friendly container. Freeze the brownies for up to 3-4 months. Thaw on the counter or in the fridge overnight.
Helpful Tips Variations To Recipe
- I used Granny Smith apples for this recipe. The Granny Smiths are tart and add a nice tang. You are welcome to use any baking apple of your choice.
- Pecans or walnuts are a great nut to add to the brownies.
- Cut apple pieces in smaller chunks if you have some youngins that don’t like “chunky stuff” in their food. You can even puree to the texture you desire before you add the apples.
- Consider adding in 1/2 cup white chocolate chips for added sweetness. Because it’s not sweet enough already, right?!
- Make sure to not over-bake the brownies or they will dry out.
Recipe FAQs
I do recommend peeling the apples for this particular dessert. The skin on apples offer a chew to them, that isn’t going to compliment the brownies. Having peeled apples will allow for the apple flavor without a chewy texture.
Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, Braeburn are all great apples to use when baking. They will offer sweet and tart flavors to your desserts, but hold up as it bakes. Some varieties of apples will break down too much and become mushy.
If you use salted butter, just leave out the 1/4 teaspoon of salt in the recipe. The butter will have enough salt in it, you won’t want to add the extra. Otherwise, it will make your brownies too salty.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tso baking soda
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and sliced into chunks or pureed if you don't like the chunks
- 3/4 cup pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Beat together sugar and butter until creamy. Add eggs and mix well. Slowly add flour mixture, mixing until combined. Stir in apple chunks or pureed and nuts.
- Pour batter evenly into baking dish and bake for 40-45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean in center. Allow to cool at least30 minutes before slicing. Serve with ice cream or top with icing sugar if desired.
I think what’s confusing everyone, is that at the very beginning of the post the cocoa is missing from the list of ingredients there. I read on down where it is written in the next list and instructions. May have to give this a try! Thanks!
Thank you Sherri for pointing that out, got it all fixed up for everybody. Appreciate you!