Easy Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan Pie Brownies are a chocolate lover’s dream come true! Classic pecan pie filling is baked right on top of rich, chewy brownies.

Easy Pecan Brownies as an alternative to Pecan Pie

If there is anything more divisive than the pie vs. cake debate, it could be pumpkin pie vs. pecan pie. I’m sure there are some people who like them both equally, but I think most of us strongly favor one over the other.

I am firmly on the pumpkin team. I have only made pecan pie once and eaten it a handful of times. It is just too sweet for me, basically a sugar pie with some nuts in it. I would choose creamy, spicy, slightly sweet pumpkin pie over sugar pie any day.

That being said, I do love pecans. My grandma had pecan trees around her house, and my cousins and I would gather the nuts off the ground when we were kids. I have a definite fondness for the nut, so I wanted to figure out how to incorporate them into a dessert that wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet. Enter these brownies.

It’s hard for me to dislike any dessert that involves chocolate. That’s why I decided to pair pecan pie with one of favorite desserts: Brownies. These rich, gooey brownies are GOOD, y’all. They have the distinct pecan pie flavor combined with rich chocolate. I hope you love them! If you want another pecan pie dessert try my Pecan Pie Bars Recipe.

It is ok to make desserts from a box

Now I realize this recipe uses boxed brownie mix. For some people that might be considered cheating or cutting corners and that is ok. For me it is just part of cooking. Sometimes I need to make things easier and use premade mixes or sauces. I do not always have the time or ability to make everything from scratch. For this recipe using the boxed brownie mix allowed me to make this dessert without feeling like I had to make two desserts: brownies and pecan pie. If you want to make brownies from scratch, do it. If you want to save time and use your favorite store bought brownie mix, do it.

Easy Pecan Pie Brownie Recipe Tips and Tricks

This recipe is pretty easy considering half the recipe is making brownies from a mix exactly according to the package instructions. However, when making the pecan pie topping there are a couple things to keep in mind. This tips and tricks will help to make the process a little easier and ensure a great dessert in the end.

• Whisk the egg whites seperately. If you whisk the egg whites seperately it is not only easier but it helps ensure a nice candy topping. Because you have the gooey brownies you can allow the topping to have a little candy crunch to it. Just whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and then fold them in to the butter and sugar mixture.
• Make sure the melted butter is warm. The warm melted butter will help to melt the sugar a little so it all mixes together nicely.
• Pecan halves vs. pieces. You can use either halves or pieces. Halves will have a more attractive appearance and make the topping look more like pecan pie. The pieces allow for easier cutting and a more even layer of nuts on top.
• Add the topping slowly. You want to try and slowly pour or spoon the pecan pie topping onto the brownies. This is imporant so you do not mix the two. The pecan pie filling should sit nicely on top of the brownie. This is a tricky part of the recipe so just take your time. If some swirls or mixes together, thats ok, it will still taste great.

Pecan Pie Brownies are an Easy Gluten Free Dessert

Finding really good gluten-free desserts can be hard. I think this recipe is a great option for gluten free and I guarantee those that are not gluten free will not be able to tell the difference. The reason this recipe is such a great gluten free dessert option is there are lots of great gluten free brownie mixes. Brownies are one of the desserts that seem to take really well to gluten free flours. As a result there are lots of great boxed gluten free brownie mixes available. My top gluten free brownie mixes are Krusteaz Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix, King Arthur Flour Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie Mix, and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix.

Gluten Free Pecan Pie Brownies

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These easy brownies combine two favorite desserts into one gooey, chocolatey treat!

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Ingredients

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• 1 box brownie mix (gluten-free or regular) plus ingredients called for on the box
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons butter melted and slightly cooled
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 egg whites, whisked to soft peaks (optional but worth it)
• 1 1/2 cup pecan halves or pieces

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 11″ baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Prepare brownie batter as instructed on package. Spread batter in prepared baking dish. (Scrape bowl very well so you can use it in the next step.)
3. In the same mixing bowl, stir together sugar, corn syrup, salt, cinnamon and melted butter until fully combined. Fold in the whisked egg whites. Add pecans, and stir until evenly coated.
4. Evenly pour pecan mixture over the brownie mix. Very gently spread nuts and sugar mixture over the brownie mix to cover. You shouldn’t be swirling it into the chocolate, so just very lightly spread the top layer.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes.
6. Center should not jiggle when you shake the pan a little when brownies are done. Allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.

Notes

The warm butter will help melt the sugar.

I used pecan halves in this batch for photos because they look pretty, but pecan pieces make the brownies easier to cut.

This recipe works perfectly with gluten-free brownie mix!

• Author: Andi
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 60
• Category: Dessert

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