Apple Harvest Blondies

2/3 cup butter
2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar, divided
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 medium-large Paula Red apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 ounces block cream cheese
2 ounces chopped pecans
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Place cream cheese in freezer for one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from burner and stir in 2 cups brown sugar and stir thoroughly. Add the eggs, flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract and stir until well blended. Fold in chopped apples and pour the mixture into an ungreased 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

Chop the cream cheese into small pieces and mix with the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture on the batter and bake for 35 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate leftovers.