I generally make the exact same New Year’s resolution each year.
Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure my resolution messes up some of your resolutions, so I’ll apologize in advance for the calorie-laden recipes that will continue to grace my column in the coming months.
It’s necessary, though, in order for me to meet my ultimate goal: cleaning out my fridge, pantry and freezer.
Throughout the year, I tend to collect all kinds of random ingredients, from those that are leftover from experiments to things I find on the sale shelf and can’t leave there—just in case the perfect recipe comes along
The first item to exit my freezer in the spirit of a new year? A plastic bag of peeled and diced Granny Smith apples.
I bought a huge bag of apples months ago, because it was being clearanced out, and I couldn’t pass them up. So here they are, now in all their unhealthy glory.
This comes from the blog “A Latte Food.” You can find the original post at https://www.alattefood.com/maple-glazed-apple-blondies/. I added extra vanilla and cinnamon in my version.
Maple Apple Pie Bars
Ingredients
Filling Ingredients
- 2 large apples diced (I used Granny Smiths)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Bar Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Glaze Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare an 11-by-seven-inch baking pan (I actually used an eight-by-eight) by spraying it with cooking spray, and set it aside.
- For the filling, combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan, and heat over medium-low, stirring regularly. Once it comes up to temp and the butter and sugar are melted together, cook for another three or four minutes, and then set it aside to cool.
- For the bar layer, cream the butter, brown sugar and regular sugar together. Beat until everything is combined and the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Beat in each egg, one at a time, and then beat in the salt and vanilla.
- Finally, beat in the flour, baking powder and cinnamon until the dough is well combined.
- Spread half of the dough evenly into your prepared pan.
- Spread the apple filling evenly over the dough layer.
- Spread the other half of the dough on top of that. (This is easier said than done. I ended up doing rough dollops all over the top and lightly spreading them out with a scraper. Don’t worry about not getting 100-percent coverage.)
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bars cool while you make your glaze.
- Add the butter, syrup, vanilla and cinnamon to a saucepan and heat it over low heat, stirring regularly. Once everything is melted and well-combined, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar until all of the lumps are gone. (You can speed that process up by sifting the sugar into the pan.)
- Allow the glaze to cool for about 10 minutes so that it thickens, and then pour it over the bars. Once the glaze and the bars are fully cooled, slice them and serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
These were delicious. They were soft and flavorful. I love the combination of maple, cinnamon and apples, and these bars were a great dessert to share with friends.
I’m sorry if these sugar-filled, delicious bars mess with any of your resolutions going into 2026. But if it’s any consolation, there is a really nice empty space in my freezer.
This piece first appeared in print Jan. 8, 2026.
Spice Up Your Life is a weekly newspaper column written by Lindsey Young in south central Kansas. If you are interested in sponsoring this column, please contact us through the “Contact Lindsey” link at the top of the page.
