Go Back
Stack of chewy maple walnut blondies drizzled with maple glaze on a white plate with toasted walnuts and maple syrup in the background.
Print Pin

Maple Walnut Blondies

These Maple Walnut Blondies are rich, chewy dessert bars made with browned butter, dark brown sugar, pure maple syrup, and toasted walnuts. They have crisp golden edges, soft centers, and a warm maple-caramel flavor that makes them perfect for fall baking, holiday dessert trays, or an everyday sweet treat.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword blondie bars, brown butter blondies, chewy blondies, chewy dessert bars, easy blondie recipe, fall dessert recipe, holiday dessert bars, homemade blondies, maple bar recipe, maple blondies, maple dessert bars, maple syrup blondies, maple walnut blondies, walnut blondies, walnut dessert bars
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 16 blondies
Calories 280kcal
Cost $10 for entire recipe

Equipment

  • 9-inch square baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Medium saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber spatula
  • measuring cups
  • wire cooling rack
  • Measuring spoons

Ingredients

Blondies

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1⅓ cups packed dark brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon maple extract optional
  • 1⅞ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ¾ teaspoon fine salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup toasted walnuts chopped

Optional Maple Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until golden brown and fragrant, about 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
  • Whisk the dark brown sugar into the browned butter until smooth.
  • Add the maple syrup, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and maple extract if using. Whisk until glossy and fully combined.
  • Add the flour, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until just combined.
  • Fold in the toasted walnuts.
  • Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set.
  • Cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 squares.
  • For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, maple syrup, cream, and salt until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled blondies if desired.

Notes

The secret to making the best Maple Walnut Blondies is choosing quality ingredients that work together to create a rich, chewy texture and deep maple flavor. Each ingredient plays an important role in the final result.

Unsalted Butter

Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that gives these maple walnut blondies their signature caramel-like taste. Unsalted butter allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe for the best flavor balance.

Dark Brown Sugar

Dark brown sugar provides moisture, chewiness, and a deeper molasses flavor than light brown sugar. It pairs beautifully with maple syrup and helps create the soft, fudgy texture that makes blondies so irresistible.

Pure Maple Syrup

For the best maple walnut blondies, use 100% pure maple syrup rather than pancake syrup. Pure maple syrup delivers authentic maple flavor and adds moisture without making the bars overly sweet.

Eggs and Egg Yolk

The combination of whole eggs and an extra egg yolk creates a rich, chewy blondie texture. The additional yolk adds extra fat, which helps keep the bars soft and tender.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla enhances the warm maple flavor and complements the browned butter. A generous amount helps create a bakery-style depth of flavor.

Maple Extract

A small amount of maple extract is optional but recommended if you want a stronger maple flavor. Since maple flavor can mellow during baking, a touch of extract helps it shine through in every bite.

All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour provides structure while still allowing the blondies to remain soft and chewy. Measuring the flour correctly helps prevent dry or dense blondies.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch helps create a softer texture and contributes to the chewy consistency that blondie lovers enjoy. A small amount goes a long way.

Salt

Salt balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and maple syrup while enhancing the overall flavor of the blondies.

Ground Cinnamon

A hint of cinnamon adds warmth without overpowering the maple flavor. It creates a cozy, fall-inspired flavor profile that pairs perfectly with toasted walnuts.

Toasted Walnuts

Toasted walnuts add crunch, texture, and a rich nutty flavor. Toasting them before adding them to the batter intensifies their flavor and makes them even more delicious.

Powdered Sugar

If you're making the optional maple glaze, powdered sugar creates a smooth, sweet drizzle that sets beautifully on top of the blondies.

Heavy Cream or Milk

A small amount of cream or milk helps thin the glaze to the perfect consistency for drizzling.

Pinch of Salt for the Glaze

Adding a pinch of salt to the maple glaze keeps it from tasting overly sweet and helps highlight the maple flavor even more.