Bourbon Pecan Brownies

Sliced Brownies with Bourbon and Pecans on a cooling rack

Hosting folks for a party this weekend? Bourbon Pecan Brownies are a unique dessert! Dense, chocolate and pecan-filled brownies sing with bourbon flavor and are perfect for a crowd.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings brownies

Calories 364kcal

Ingredients

20 oz. dark chocolate or bittersweet chocolate 2 ¾ cups, chopped
8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 stick
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
6 eggs
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 oz. 6 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups pecan pieces
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9"x13" baking pan with nonstick baking spray, then line with parchment paper in a sling. (This will help the brownies lift easily out of the pan when they're cooled.)
In a glass bowl, melt the 20 oz. of chocolate with the butter and applesauce in the microwave. Heat them in 20-30 second intervals, stirring after each until everything is melted, smooth and combined. When melted, let cool as you mix the rest of the ingredients.
In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, bourbon and salt together until well combined.
Add the cooled chocolate mixture, and beat gently by hand or on a low setting on a mixer until evenly incorporated.
Add the flour, pecans and the additional chocolate chips, stirring until just combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and bake for 30-40 minutes minutes or until cooked through. (If you're a fan of gooey brownies, check this around the 20 minute point.)
Enjoy with a glass of milk while the brownies are warm!

Notes

Adapted from these Classic Chocolate Brownies recipe.

Quick tips and tricks to the best homemade brownies

Bake them in advance. While gooey, warm brownies are excellent to enjoy at any time, if you're sharing these, make them in advance and reheat individual brownies in the microwave in 15-second bursts.
Make them your own. This recipe can be something where you choose your own adventure. Swap the dark chocolate bars for bittersweet bars. Use milk chocolate chips instead (or white chocolate chips to add different color!) Swap out the pecans for another nut of your choosing, or simply leave them out if it's not your thing.
Half the recipe. Instead of making a huge pan of these homemade brownies, make a smaller batch by doing the math. The bake time will be a little shorter (20 minutes instead of 30), so keep an eye on them.

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