Frosted Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies.

Soft, gooey, thick, and perfectly chewy — snickerdoodle blondie bars are up today! Made with nutty browned butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and all the classic dry ingredients. The dough is layered with a thick swirl of cinnamon sugar, then baked and frosted. The light coat of frosting makes these bars extra special — it’s what takes them from cozy to spectacular.

I simmer a little apple cider with cinnamon and vanilla for the frosting, which keeps every bite flavorful, gooey, salty, and so delicious. These are perfect for baking all fall long and right through the holidays!

I know it’s only October, but with so much holiday planning already happening, I can’t help but be excited! Are you all looking forward to Thanksgiving this year?

We have some fun Halloween plans that I’m super excited about, but Thanksgiving is definitely where my focus is right now. I’ve been planning menus and testing new recipes like crazy — it’s been so cozy and creative around here.

When I have weeks filled with recipe testing, I sometimes call in help choosing which ones to share. My cousin Abby is always my go-to girl — she’s the best at picking recipes you all end up loving the most. Fun fact: she’s the one who told me to make my very popular White Chicken Chili!

So when I reached out to Abby this past week, she didn’t even hesitate, “Snickerdoodles are always #1 for me!!”

And that was that! Easy choice — and thank goodness she said it, because these turned out nearly perfect.

They’re soft, sweet, and just the right amount of salty — perfect for dinner parties, snacking before (and after) Thanksgiving dinner, or wrapping up for holiday gifting!

These are the details

Ingredients

• salted butter
• eggs
• brown sugar
• vanilla
• flour
• cinnamon
• baking powder
• baking soda
• sea salt

Ingredients for the frosting

• spiced apple cider
• cinnamon
• vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

Kitchen Tools

For this recipe, you’ll need a couple of mixing bowls you love to bake with, a square baking dish, and an electric mixer to mix the batter.

The Steps

Step 1: Make the Cinnamon Swirl

In a small bowl, mix together the dark brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter until combined.
Use your hands to form a soft cinnamon crumble — this will create the perfect sugary ripple throughout the bars.

Step 2: Mix Up the Blondie Batter

Start with melted, lightly browned butter (this adds so much flavor). Add the eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.

Now, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt — pretty standard blondie ingredients! Beat until the dough just comes together. Try not to overmix!

Step 3: Layering

Spread about half the batter into a parchment-lined 8×8-inch brownie pan.
Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl crumbs evenly over top, then dollop the remaining batter over the swirl. Gently spread to mostly cover.

Don’t worry if some of the swirl peeks through — that’s what gives these blondies their pretty marbled look!

If you’re short on time, you can lightly sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar and skip the frosting.

Step 4: Baking

Bake the blondies for about 30 minutes, until the center is just set and the edges are lightly golden.

Step 5: The Frosting

While the bars bake, make the frosting.

Simmer the apple cider on the stove until it reduces to about 2–3 tablespoons. If you have a cinnamon stick, toss it in for extra flavor.

Once reduced, whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and a small pinch of sea salt until smooth and glossy.

When the blondies come out of the oven, immediately pour the glaze over the top. Allow the frosting to set for at least 1 hour before slicing.

Finish with a very light sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and flaky sea salt (optional).

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!

Cut into bars and enjoy warm — gooey centers and all!

They’re perfect for dinner parties, pre- or post-Thanksgiving snacking, or wrapping up as a sweet hostess gift.

Looking for more sweet cinnamon recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Chewy Frosted Cinnamon Swirl Snickerdoodles

Easy Slice ‘n’ Bake Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Chewy Brown Butter Pretzel Pecan Cookies

Soft Gingerbread Latte Cookies with Brown Butter Icing

Lastly, if you make these Frosted Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!