New Orleans Praline Brownies

Name: New Orleans Praline Brownies
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa; 1 ½ teaspoons instant espresso; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water; 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (finely chopped); 4 tablespoons 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 large eggs; 2 large egg yolks; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 ½ cups sugar; 1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 3/4 teaspoon table salt; 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (cut into 1/2-inch pieces); 1/2 cup whipping cream; 6 tablespoons butter; 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (toasted); 1 ½ cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla

4.72 from 7 votes

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Sink your teeth into these New Orleans Praline Brownies, and you’re going to feel like you are in food heaven. These pecan frosted brownies are so rich and delicious you are going to satisfy your hungry sweet tooth. Plus, this is an easy brownie recipe you need in your life.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

New Orleans Praline Brownies

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! Today is Fat Tuesday, and if you’re lucky enough to be in New Orleans today, I’m extremely jealous! 😉 But even if you’re not in the Big Easy today, it doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate! The brownies I am bringing you today are absolutely perfect for your Mardi Gras celebration (or any celebration, really!) Chewy, fudgy double chocolate brownies studded with chunks of chocolate and topped with an incredible praline pecan frosting. So rich, so chocolatey, so irresistible!

I used my favorite brownie recipe as the base for these addicting brownies; however, feel free to use your own favorite fudgy brownie recipe (just make sure that it’s baked in a 9×13-inch baking dish). Laissez les bon temps rouler! 😀

New Orleans Praline Brownies

Tips for Frosting Brownies

Frosting brownies is one of the easiest things ever if you follow these helpful tips.

Let the brownies cool down all the way before frosting. Unless you prefer the look of frosting to melt down the sides, if you do that, you will need to cut them first, then add the frosting when the brownies are still warm.
Use a rubber spatula to add the frosting. Spread the frosting evenly along with the entire pan of brownies.

Variation To Brownie Recipe

There are plenty of things you can add to this praline brownie recipe if you want. Here are a few ideas.

White Chocolate – Mix in a few white chocolate chips into the brownie batter. It will add some sweetness that goes well with the other deep chocolate flavors.
Sea Salt – Sprinkle a little bit of sea salt all over the brownies before serving. It’s a yummy way to add some extra flavor.
Caramel Chips – I love the way it tastes when you have caramel and chocolate together. So it just makes sense to add in some caramel chips!

New Orleans Praline Brownies

Why Are These Called New Orleans Praline Brownies

In New Orlean’s pralines are well known and a must-have food for any occasion. So, these brownies have all the things that pralines have, like nuts, chocolate, and caramelized sugar! It’s a heavenly treat that is very much celebrated in New Orleans.

Storing Brownies

Let the brownies cool, add the frosting then place them in a food container. The lid should fit well, and they can be kept at room temperature. They will last up to 5 days at room temp.

New Orleans Praline Brownies

Ingredients

For the Brownies:

Dutch-processed cocoa
Instant espresso
Boiling water
Unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
Unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil
Large eggs
Large egg yolks
Pure vanilla extract
Sugar
Unbleached all-purpose flour
Table salt
Bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

For the Praline Frosting:

Whipping cream
Butter
Packed brown sugar
Chopped pecans, toasted
Powdered sugar
Vanilla

How to Make Praline Brownies

First Step: Heat up the oven to 350 degrees F. Then add some butter to the bottom and the sides of a 9 x 13″ baking pan. Use a metal pan! Add parchment paper to prevent the brownies from sticking. Allow it to hang over the edges so you can easily pull the brownies out of the pan when they are done. Add some butter to the parchment paper to grease it.

Second Step: Combine the Dutch processed cocoa, espresso powder, and the boiling water together in a large bowl and whisk. Once it’s smooth, add in the unsweetened chocolate and whisk until the chocolate has melted. Add in the butter and oil and whisk some more. Then mix in the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla extract and whisk until everything is well incorporated. Mix in the flour and the salt. Combine with a rubber spatula, then fold in the chunks of chocolate.

Third Step: Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread out the batter, so it’s smooth and gets into the corners.

Fourth Step: Bake the brownies for 30-35 minutes or until they are done. You should be able to insert a toothpick in the center, and it should come out clean when the praline brownies are done. Place the baking pan on a wire rack and allow it to cool for 1 1/2 hours.

Fifth Step: Take the parchment paper that is hanging over and carefully lift the brownies out of the pan. Place them on the wire rack and continue letting them cool for 1 hour.

Sixth Step: Prepare the frosting by combining the heavy cream, butter, and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently, so it doesn’t burn to the pan. Cook until it begins to boil, then stir constantly for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the pecans, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Cool for 5 minutes and stir frequently. Spread the frosting over the top of the brownies and let them sit for 30-45 minutes so the frosting can set up.

Recipe Notes:
For the chewiest texture, it is important to let the brownies cool thoroughly before cutting.
If your baking dish is glass, cool the brownies for 10 minutes, then remove them promptly from the pan (otherwise, the heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking).
Use high-quality chocolate for the best results.

Enjoy!

Now, remember to save this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

New Orleans Praline Brownies

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New Orleans Praline Brownies

Cook Time: 35

Inactive Time: 45

Total Time: 1 20

Servings: brownies

Sink your teeth into these New Orleans Praline Brownies, and you're going to feel like you are in food heaven. These pecan frosted brownies are so rich and delicious you are going to satisfy your hungry sweet tooth. Plus, this is an easy brownie recipe you need in your life.

4.72 from 7 votes

Review Recipe

Ingredients

For the Brownies:

1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
1 ½ teaspoons instant espresso
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
4 tablespoons 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups sugar
1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon table salt
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

For the Praline Frosting:

1/2 cup whipping cream
6 tablespoons butter
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. Place another piece of parchment paper in the same manner, perpendicular to the first sheet. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.
In a large bowl, whisk cocoa, espresso powder, and boiling water together in large bowl until smooth. Add unsweetened chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted. Whisk in melted butter and oil. Add eggs, yolks and vanilla and continue to whisk until smooth and homogeneous. Whisk in sugar until fully incorporated. Add flour and salt and mix with rubber spatula until combined. Fold in chocolate chunks.
Transfer batter to prepared pan and spread batter into corners of pan and smooth surface. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 1½ hours.
Using parchment overhang, lift brownies from pan. Return brownies to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour.
To make the frosting, in medium saucepan, combine cream, butter and brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in pecans, powdered sugar and vanilla. Cool 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Spread frosting over brownies. Allow to stand 30 to 45 minutes, or until frosting is set.

Notes

Recipe Notes:
For the chewiest texture, it is important to let the brownies cool thoroughly before cutting.
If your baking dish is glass, cool the brownies 10 minutes, then remove them promptly from the pan (otherwise, the heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking).
Use high-quality chocolate for best results.