Gluten Free Maple Walnut Blondies (Applebee's Copycat)

Gluten Free Maple Walnut Blondies are exactly like those served at Applebee's years ago. Serve them with a scoop of ice cream and the yummiest creamy maple butter sauce!

There was always an Applebee's close by when I used to work out of the house, and we would go for lunch quite often. I never really had any room for dessert at lunchtime, but if I did I would definitely order the maple walnut blondie as it was my favorite!!

If you never had a chance to try the maple walnut blondie when you could eat gluten, don't you worry. I've created a gluten free version that is so much like the original, it makes me do a double take!

What are Maple Walnut Blondies?

Okay, here's the thing. The Applebee's maple walnut blondie isn't actually a blondie at all! A blondie is like a brownie without chocolate. It's dense and rich. There's often white chocolate and/or nuts in true blondies so that's probably why they call it one. However, Applebee's version is more cakelike than blondie like. I honestly think the cakelike consistency works so well because it's not as dense and rich as a true blondie would be, so it compliments the rich maple butter sauce perfectly.

Speaking of that sauce, the sauce is what makes this dessert to die for!!!! I could literally drink it. It's creamy and smooth and all about the maple. I remember Applebee's served the sauce on the side so you could drizzle it yourself and let it cascade down the ice cream into a pool of goodness on the skillet. Are you getting salivating yet???

The Ingredients Needed

I've had this dessert too many times to admit, so when I found all the copycat recipes floating around on the internet I was pretty disappointed. All those recipes made an actual blondie and a sauce that wasn't creamy at all. It was more like a butterscotch sauce (similar to the sauce for my version of 'Ohana Bread Pudding).

I just recently stumbled upon a version that seemed so true to the original I had to give it a shot. And lo and behold, it was PERFECT!! Soft and cake-like, it's exactly what I was looking for. I changed it up to make it gluten free and I also added white chocolate chunks, in addition to the walnuts. Here's everything you'll need to make these:

For the "Blondie"

• Kim's gluten free flour blend -- a store bought blend may be substituted, but hasn't been tested.
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Egg whites
• Chopped white chocolate
• Chopped walnuts

For the Maple Butter Sauce

• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Real maple syrup
• Vanilla ice cream for serving

How to Make the Blondies

To begin, whip egg whites into stiff peaks. Add sugars and butter to the egg whites and beat until smooth. Sift together the dry ingredients and slowly add them to the rest until incorporated. Lastly, fold in the white chocolate chunks and walnuts. Bake the blondies until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

How to Make the Maple Sauce

What's so wonderful about this sauce recipe is that it's JUST LIKE what I remember getting at Applebee's! It's not a clear, butterscotch-like sauce at all (sorry all the other copycats out there, but that's just not right). It's a smooth and creamy sauce that's simply heaven.

Would you believe it if I tell you it's basically a very simple version of a cream cheese frosting that's been heated until melted? Yep, that's the secret to this amazing sauce! Butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. It's magic I tell ya!!!

I actually double the amount of sauce ingredients and save it to pour on pancakes, ice cream, and anything else that might need a little maple buttery goodness🍁

If you're missing Applebee's maple butter blondies, you're gonna be so excited to try this gluten free version! If you haven't ever had them, you're STILL gonna be so excited to try them👏👏👏!!!!

Adapted from The Country Cook.