Best Pecan Brownie Trees Recipes

GLUTEN-FREE FUDGY PECAN BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Whisk together cornstarch, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt. In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave butter and chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add cornstarch mixture and stir vigorously until mixture is smooth and begins to pull away from side of bowl, about 2 minutes. Stir in pecans.
• Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Using paper overhang, lift cake out of pan and cut into 16 squares.

PECAN PIE BROWNIES

Steps:

• For the brownie layer: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Spray the parchment with nonstick cooking spray.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the eggs, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, baking powder and espresso powder, if using. Beat on medium-low speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sugar and stir until mostly dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the melted butter mixture to the bowl and mix on medium-low speed until the batter is smooth and shiny, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and carefully add the flour and chocolate chips, mixing until the flour is fully incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the brownie layer is cooked through, 32 to 34 minutes.
• For the pecan layer: While the brownie layer is baking, whisk together the brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, vanilla, salt, eggs and bourbon, if using, in a medium bowl until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Add the pecans and stir until the nuts are completely coated.
• Gently pour the pecan mixture over the baked brownie, using a spoon or small offset spatula to carefully spread all the way to the edges. Bake until the pecan pie layer is golden, set and no longer jiggly, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely, about 3 hours, before slicing into 9 squares.

PECAN BROWNIE TREES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with 18x18-inch piece heavy-duty foil so foil extends over long sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, the brown sugar and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes or until creamy. Beat in vanilla and eggs.
• On medium speed, beat in flour, baking powder and salt until mixed. With spoon, stir in chopped pecans. Spoon and spread evenly in pan.
• Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In small bowl with wooden spoon, beat powdered sugar, 1/4 cup butter and enough milk for desired spreading consistency. Stir in food color. Lift foil with brownies from pan. With sharp knife, trim 1/4 inch from long sides. Cut brownies into 3 lengthwise strips.
• With metal spatula, lift 1 strip to cutting surface. On 1 long side, mark at 2-inch intervals with a small cut or with toothpicks. On remaining long side, make a mark 1 inch from short side. Make marks every 2 inches. With sharp knife, cut into triangles, using small cuts as guidelines. Frost triangles with 1/3 of frosting. Sprinkle with candy decors. Pull apart slightly before frosting is set. In center of bottom edge of each "tree", cut small slit with point of sharp knife. Insert pecan half into slit to resemble trunk of tree. (There will be a small piece at each end of each row that will not be a complete tree.) Repeat with remaining 2 rows of brownies and frosting.