It's the holiday season and for me that means enjoying all the desserts at the dessert table. These maple pecan pie brownies are a mash-up of two of my favorite desserts, brownies and pecan pie! These brownies are rich, sweet, and full of decadent holiday flavors and textures. This dessert is easy to throw together and impressive to serve. Don't forget to add a splash of bourbon for even more festive flavor!

In a few words, these maple pecan pie brownies are:

Sweet
Fudgy
Decadent
Crunchy
Full of chocolate, maple and pecan flavor. Add a generous pour of whiskey bourbon for even more flavor.
Semi homemade if using a great box mix brownie.
A fun twist on the classic pecan pie.
Perfect for your holiday dessert table. Make sure to check out my Pecan Upside Down Cake for another impressive holiday dessert!

What ingredients do I need to make these decadent pecan brownies?

A great quality box brownie mix (for semi homemade option)
for the homemade option:
70% chocolate bar
Unsalted butter
Granulated sugar
Instant espresso powder
Salt
Dutch process cocoa powder
All purpose flour
Maple sugar
Maple syrup
Bourbon whiskey (optional)
Eggs
Vanilla extract
Pecans
Heavy whipping cream (for topping)

From these ingredients you will make the brownie layer and the maple pecan pie filling layer. As a nice complement to the richness of the dessert, dollop a generous scoop of freshly whipped cream.

What baking tools to I need?

9" (23cm) springform pan
- or use 9x9 pan
Parchment paper to line the pan.
Mixing bowls: One for the brownie layer and one for the pecan pie filling.
Whisks and flexible spatulas or spoons to mix the brownie batter.
Oven thermometer : This is an easy way to double check the temperature is correct.
Digital food thermometer: This is an easy way to check that the filling is baked to the proper temperature. The internal temperature should read 200 F (93 C).

Tips and tricks for the perfect maple pecan pie brownies:

The best substitutes for this recipe

Boxed brownie mix: Use your favorite homemade brownie mix or follow the one listed in the recipe
Maple sugar: Use this to keep the pecan pie filling refined sugar free.
- Use light brown sugar as a substitute.
Pure maple syrup: This keeps the pecan pie filling corn syrup free and refined sugar free.
- Corn syrup would be a natural substitute for the maple syrup in this recipe.
Bourbon whiskey
- This is more for flavor to the dessert.
- The alcohol burns off completely, leaving only the flavor behind.
- Omit completely if you don't want to use it.

A few tips for perfect maple pecan pie brownies:

Read through the entire recipe before starting.
- Decide if you want to go the fully homemade dessert route or semi homemade (they're both delicious!).
Use lightly grease and line the pan with parchment paper.
Bake the brownies until the top has just set. The brownies will continue baking once the pecan pie filling is added.
Use room temperature ingredients. This helps the pecan pie filling come together more smoothly.
Bake the pecan pie brownies until the pecan pie filling is done.
- Signs of doneness are:
  - An internal temperature of 200 F (93 C).
  - The center gives you just a little jiggle. Similar to the stable but slightly wiggly movement of Jell-O when you give it a gentle shake.
  - The edges are stable and set.
Cool the maple pecan pie brownies for 2 hours in the pan.
- BUT after about 30 minutes run a butter knife around the pan to loosen any parts of the filling that may be sticking to the pan.
- Run the knife around the edges of the brownies and pan again around 60 minutes if needed.
Serve with unsweetened freshly whipped cream. This helps to cut the sweetness a bit and adds a nice textural contrast.

other brownie recipes to try

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Make sure to tag me on instagram @olivesnthyme. For more delicious dessert ideas follow me on pinterest