Brown Butter Apple Pecan Streusel Bars

Original Blog post from: Confections, Crafts and Couture.

It's September, which means the end of summer is in sight. Summer of 2025 has been lovely and jammed packed with wonderful memories. My favorite season is right around the corner and I can't wait. I'm ready for the days where I need to wear a light jacket in the crisp cool air. I'm excited for the changing color leaves, pumpkins everywhere, seasonal fall fashion, cozy comfortable evenings and most importantly the flavors of fall.

Fall flavors are filled with a dimension of warmth and feels like an internal hug. Whether it's savory sage, pumpkin spice, caramel apple or other favorite autumn tastes I can't seem to get enough throughout the season. Something about the essence of fall inspires me to create more favorable recipes.

Recently while I was at work, someone unexpectedly brought in a box of Granny Smith apples for people to take home. I quickly gathered up my dozen apples and started brainstorming what to make with them. It only took a few hours before I had the perfect recipe for my newly acquired produce. I quickly came home and got to work on my recipe.

These Brown Butter Apple Pecan Streusel Bars are an excellent representation of the fall flavors that I love. The warmth of the cinnamon and apples with the richness from the brown butter and pecans. I drizzled a maple syrup glaze on top for even more autumn aromatics. I also decided to add even more fall pizzazz with some fall sprinkles to decorate from Kaleidoscope Sprinkles. This recipe is super easy to make and will be a fall favorite for sure.

Save this recipe because once you make it, you'll be coming back for more.

See the complete recipe and step-by-step video below.

Step by step recipe



Brown Butter Apple Pecan Streusel Bars



Ingredients

Dough:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, room temperature 

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 pounds of Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced

juice of ½ lemon (approximately 2 tbsp.)



Streusel topping:

1 ⅓ cup all purpose flour

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

⅔ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1 cup of chopped pecans



Maple Glaze:

2 cups confectioner’s sugar

2 tbsp. real maple syrup

2 tbsp. lemon juice

pinch of salt

½ tsp. maple extract (optional)



Mellow Leaves from Heaven Sprinkle Mix



Directions

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Butter will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir butter frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Be sure to continue to keep your eye on it because it can burn very fast!

As soon as the butter takes on a nutty brown color, take pan off the heat and allow butter to cool to room temperature.

White butter is cooling, make the streusel. In a medium size bowl combine flour, butter, brown sugar, salt and pecans. Use a fork to press and combine ingredients until mixture resembles course sand. Once fully combined set bowl aside.

Using a large skillet, add apples and lemon juice. Cook apples on medium heat until apple soften and stop giving off liquid. Remove from heat and allow apples to completely cool.

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a medium sized bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In a large separate bowl, using either hand or stand mixer, cream together brown butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Cream together until mixture is airy and lighter in color. Add eggs one at a time. Mix until smooth. Add vanilla extract. Add half of flour mixture to cream mixture and stir gently until incorporated. Add second half of flour mixture. Stir gently until incorporated. Add in cooled apples. Slowly fold in until combined.

Line 9 x 13″ pan with parchment paper. Using spatula, place dough onto bottom of the pan. Press evenly into bottom of the pan. Place streusel on top and spread across evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bars are slightly golden and set. Remove from oven and allow bar to cool completely to room temperature.

While bars are baking, make the glaze. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together maple syrup, lemon juice, salt, extract (optional) and confectioners sugar. Whisk until glaze is smooth, about one minute. Pour glaze onto cooled bars. Add sprinkles on top of glaze.

Cut evenly into rectangles or squares. 

Devour and Enjoy!!