Indulge in the ultimate New Orleans dessert experience with these decadent Pecan Praline Brownies. These jazzed-up boxed brownies are topped with a sweet, crunchy, homemade pecan praline that provides pure bliss in every bite. Whether you are prepping for a Mardi Gras party or simply craving a decadent chocolate treat, this recipe delivers that iconic French Quarter flavor right to your kitchen.
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Why You'll Want to Make Pecan Praline Brownies
- The Perfect Texture: Combining fudgy chocolate brownies with a crunchy, buttery praline topping creates an irresistible contrast in every mouthful.
- Simple Gourmet Results: By using a high-quality boxed mix and simple kitchen staples, you can achieve professional bakery-level results with minimal effort.
- Crowd-Pleasing Presentation: Their rich flavor and beautiful presentation make them a standout addition to any party or family gathering.
- New Orleans Flair: These brownies offer a authentic taste of the Big Easy, making them the perfect centerpiece for a Mardi Gras celebration.
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
Steps to Make Jazzed-Up Boxed Brownies
- Prepare brownies according to package directions, or for even better brownies, follow my tips for jazzed-up boxed brownies as described below. For this recipe, I used the Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix.
Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside until ready to use. The first change I made was to swap the oil for unsalted butter. Melt the butter in a large microwave-proof bowl in 30-second increments until fully melted. This should take no more than a minute. Allow the butter to cool slightly, then whisk in whole milk, which is a swap for the water called for on the box.
- Lightly beat together two eggs, I increased the eggs the box called for from one to two. Then, whisk the beaten eggs and a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the butter and milk mixture.
- Next, pour the boxed brownie mix into the bowl and stir with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon until fully combined.
- Then, stir in toasted pecan pieces.
- Transfer the brownie mixture to the prepared pan and bake according to the package directions. For me, that was 40 minutes.
- The brownies are done when the center is set, and a toothpick inserted about two inches from the edge comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire cooling rack.
Steps to Make the Pecan Praline Topping
- Sift the powdered sugar and set aside until ready to use.
- Melt unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then, add dark brown sugar and heavy whipping cream. Stir frequently until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Once the mixture comes to a boil, stir constantly for about a minute.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract and toasted pecan pieces.
- Add sifted powdered sugar.
- Stir in the powdered sugar until well combined and smooth. Allow the mixture to cool for about five minutes, stirring frequently.
- Pour the praline topping over the cooled brownies and smooth into an even layer with a silicone spatula.
- Sprinkle some additional toasted pecan pieces over the top and slightly press them into the praline topping to ensure they stick. Allow to cool for about an hour before cutting into squares and enjoying. Store Pecan Praline Brownies in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
Whether you are hosting a festive celebration or simply looking for a rich chocolate fix, these Pecan Praline Brownies offer the perfect blend of Southern tradition and effortless baking. With their velvety texture and crunchy topping, they are sure to become a staple in your dessert repertoire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why swap oil for unsalted butter?
Butter provides a richer flavor and a fudgier texture with a shinier crust compared to oil.
Why use whole milk instead of water?
The fat content in whole milk adds moisture and richness, resulting in a more decadent, gooey consistency.
What does adding an extra egg do?
Adding a second egg acts as a binding agent, making the brownies denser and chewier.
How should I store these?
Keep your Pecan Praline Brownies in an airtight container; they will stay fresh for 3 to 5 days.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Toast Your Pecans: For the best flavor, toast pecan pieces at 350°F for 10 minutes before adding them to the batter or topping.
- Choose Dark Brown Sugar: While light brown sugar works, dark brown sugar contains more molasses, giving your praline frosting a deeper, more complex caramel taste.
- Don't Rush the Cooling: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before adding the praline topping to ensure the layers set properly.
- Sift Your Sugar: Sifting the powdered sugar for the topping is essential to achieving a smooth, professional-looking finish.
Other Great Mardi Gras Recipes
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Pecan Praline Brownies
Indulge in the ultimate dessert experience with these decadent Pecan Praline Brownies. Their rich flavor makes them a crowd-pleaser.
Equipment
- 9x9-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- large microwave proof bowl
- Silicone Spatula
- medium saucepan
- small colander for sifting powdered sugar
Ingredients
For Brownies
- 19 oz Box Brownie Mix1
- ¼ c Unsalted Butter2 melted
- ¼ c Whole Milk3
- 2 Large Eggs4
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ c Toasted Pecan Pieces5
For Pecan Praline Frosting
- 1 ½ c Powdered Sugar, sifted
- 6 tbs Unsalted Butter
- 1 ½ c Dark Brown Sugar6
- ½ c Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ c Toasted Pecan Pieces divided
Instructions
To Make Jazzed Up Boxed Brownies
- Prepare brownies according to package directions, or for even better brownies follow my tips for jazzed up boxed brownies. For this recipe I used Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix.
- Preheat oven to 325°F and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, set aside until ready to use.
- Melt the butter in a large microwave proof bowl in 30 second increments, until fully melted. This should take no more than a minute. Allow the butter to cool slightly. Whisk whole milk into the melted butter.
- Lightly beat together two eggs, then whisk the beaten eggs and a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the butter and milk mixture.
- Next, pour the boxed brownie mix into the bowl and use a silicone spatula, or wooden spoon, to stir until fully combined. Then, stir in toasted pecan pieces.
- Transfer the brownie mixture into the prepared pan and bake according to the package directions, 40-44 minutes. The brownies are done when the center is set and a toothpick inserted about two inches from the edge comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire cooling rack.
To Make the Pecan Praline Topping
- Sift the powdered sugar and set aside until ready to use.
- Melt unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then, add dark brown sugar and heavy whipping cream. Stir frequently until mixture comes to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil stir constantly for about a minute.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract and ½ cup of the toasted pecan pieces. Stir in the sifted powdered sugar until well combined and smooth. Allow the mixture to cool for about five minutes, stirring frequently.
- Pour the praline topping over the cooled brownies and smooth into an even layer with a silicone spatula. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of toasted pecan pieces over the top and slightly press them into the praline topping to ensure they stick.
- Allow to cool for about an hour before cutting into squares and enjoying. Store Pecan Praline Brownies in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
- Yield 16 servings
Tips/Notes
- I used Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix.
- Replace the oil the brownie mix calls for with unsalted butter.
- Replace the water the brownie mix calls for with whole milk.
- Add one more egg than the brownie mix calls for, or a total of two eggs.
- To toast pecan pieces, place them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature before adding to brownies.
- You can substitute light brown sugar. However, dark brown sugar has a higher molasses content, which gives the praline frosting a richer, deeper flavor with more pronounced caramel notes, making it taste more complex and decadent.
Nutrition
Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 4gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 117mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 1gSugar: 49gVitamin A: 370IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg
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