Bake or Break
New to BAKE or BREAK? Start Here!

Pecan Lovers’ Brownies

Pecan Lovers’ Brownies are just the nutty, fudgy brownie you’ve always wanted. If you love pecans and chocolate, don’t miss out on these!

pile of Pecan Lovers' Brownies on a beige plate

Pecan Lovers’ Brownies

If you love nutty brownies, then I’m about to make you very, very happy. These Pecan Lovers’ Brownies are jam-packed with oodles of pecans for the ultimate nutty brownie experience.

There are ground pecans as well as chopped pecans in the batter. That gives you lots of pecan flavor plus a little crunch. Add to that some pecan halves and pieces on top, and there’s zero chance a pecan lover like me will be able to resist.

These Pecan Lovers’ Brownies are ridiculously fudgy, rich, and oh-so good. They’re a decadent treat that will make you question the very existence of plain brownies.

overhead view of ingredients for pecan brownies

What You’ll Need

You’ll mostly need the basics for these brownies. And anytime we’re talking about brownies, expect me to tell you repeatedly to use good quality chocolate.

  • Unsalted butter
  • Unsweetened chocolate – Use a good quality chocolate, and chop it roughly to help it melt faster.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – I like natural cocoa powder in these brownies, but you can use Dutch-process if you like. Quality really matters here, so pick a good one. Ideally, sift the cocoa so you don’t end up with lumps.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Eggs – Set the eggs out before you begin baking so they won’t be cold when mixed into the batter.
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour – Measure by weight or use the spoon and sweep method.
  • Pecans – You’ll need finely ground pecans (or pecan meal) as well as chopped pecans for the batter. For grinding the pecans, I highly recommend using a food processor. I also like to add some pecan halves and pieces to the top of the brownies before baking.
  • Salt – If your pecans are salted, you’ll likely want to reduce the salt in the recipe.
  • Chocolate chips – Dark chocolate chips are so good in these brownies, but semisweet will work, too.
a Pecan Lovers' Brownie with a bite missing on a white and beige plate

How to Make Pecan Lovers’ Brownies

These brownies mix easily in just one bowl. I prefer to mix brownie batter by hand, but you can use an electric mixer if you take care not to over-mix.

Prepare for baking. Gather all the ingredients, and heat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, and grease the paper and any exposed parts of the inside of the pan. The lining will allow the brownies to be easily removed from the pan later. Alternatively, you can skip the lining and just grease the pan.

Melt the butter and chocolate. This can be done in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth. Let the mixture cool slightly before continuing.

Add the cocoa powder and the sugars. Whisk in the cocoa powder, followed by the granulated sugar and the brown sugar.

Add the eggs and vanilla. Next, add the eggs and vanilla, and mix until combined.

Add the dry ingredients. Stir in the flour, ground pecans, and salt. Mix just until combined.

Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips. Add the chopped pecans and chocolate chips, and stir just until combined.

Bake. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and spread it evenly. Top the brownie batter with pecan halves and pieces. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.

overhead view of freshly baked Pecan Lovers' Brownies in a square baking pan on a wire rack

Cool and cut. Place the pan on a wire rack and cool the brownies completely. Then use the parchment paper to lift the cooled brownies from the pan onto a cutting board. Cut into squares.

overhead view of Pecan Lovers' Brownies cut into squares

Tips for Success

  • Use good quality chocolates. I know I’m a bit of a broken record about this, but with brownies it really makes a difference. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. I most often use Guittard and Ghirardelli.
  • Don’t over-mix the batter. That can lead to tough brownies.
  • Use a light-colored metal pan. I don’t recommend glass or another material because of differences in how they conduct heat. If you want to know more, I have some good info about how your pan can affect your brownies.
  • Don’t over-bake. When a pick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, the brownies are done. Too much oven time means dry brownies.
  • Cool completely before cutting into bars. Otherwise, your brownies may be crumbly and not hold together well.
overhead view of a pile of Pecan Lovers' Brownies on a beige plate

How to Store Leftovers

Store cooled brownies in an airtight container for up to 2 days. If they’re uncut, they’ll likely keep another day or two.

For longer storage, wrap them well and place in the refrigerator. They should keep for a week. Bring them to room temperature or heat them briefly in the microwave before serving.

a Pecan Lovers' Brownie served on a white and beige plate

Can These Brownies Be Frozen?

Yes! Wrap the uncut brownies or each of the cooled, cut brownies in plastic wrap, and wrap again in aluminum foil or place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Stored properly, they should keep in the freezer up to 3 months.

To thaw the brownies, you can place them on the counter for a couple of hours before serving. If you’re impatient, try placing them on a plate and heating at half-power in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed.

close-up overhead view of Pecan Lovers' Brownies cut into squares

Pecan Lovers' Brownies

Yield 16 2-inch brownies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Pecan Lovers' Brownies are intensely fudgy and nutty. A must-bake for fans of nutty brownies!

pile of Pecan Lovers' Brownies on a beige plate

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter
  • 2 ounces (56g) unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (31g) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
  • 1 & 1/4 cups (250g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100g) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (25g) pecan meal or ground pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 & 1/2 cups (180g) chopped pecans
  • 3/4 cup (127g) dark chocolate chips
  • about 1/3 cup pecan halves and pieces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Grease the lining and any exposed parts of the inside of the pan. Alternatively, leave the pan unlined and grease the pan.
  2. Place the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave at half-power in 30-second increments until the butter melts and the chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
  3. Whisk the cocoa powder into the chocolate mixture. Add the sugar and brown sugar, and mix until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.
  4. Add the flour, ground pecans, and salt. Stir just until combined.
  5. Stir in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
  6. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and spread evenly. Sprinkle the pecan halves and pieces on top of the batter, pressing down lightly. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
  7. Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack. Then use the parchment lining to transfer the brownies to a cutting board and cut into squares.

Recommended Products

Bake or Break is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Show off your baking masterpiece!

Snap a pic, tag @bakeorbreak, and use #bakeorbreak on Instagram. Can't wait to see your creation!

More Nutty Brownie Recipes

Share this:

    4 Comments on “Pecan Lovers’ Brownies”

  1. Yesterday I found myself torn, regarding trying a new brownie recipe. I have so many in my collection as it is. OMG, now I am mad at myself for almost NOT making them. These are stunners and I honestly can’t remember being so wowed by a brownie in an awfully long time. I toasted a little over 8 oz. of chopped pecans, so there would be enough for the ground pecans as well as the chopped. As for the pieces that topped the batter, I left them untoasted. Jennifer, I cannot thank you enough for sharing this fantastic brownie treatment. Some I am gifting, but right now my freezer is awfully content….and so am I 🙂

    • Jeff, I’m so excited you made and enjoyed these brownies! I do try to be humble, but I’ve been pretty wowed by them, too. 😉 I have a new stash in my freezer right now so I can dole them out when we’re craving them.

  2. i signe dup for the lovley recipes. how do i bring them up again later.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *