Brown Butter Brownies

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These brown butter brownies with pecans are perfect for all you chocolate and nut lovers out there. Super moist, dense, and fudgy with a little added crunch, these brownies are always in demand!

Two Brown Butter Brownies are stacked on top of each other with pieces of nuts on top, set against a blurred background with more brownies.

Brown Butter Brownies are perfect for all of you chocolate and nut lovers out there, not just peanut and pecan lovers! There are lots of nuts out there so pick your favorite or favorites! Remember, you can always use more than one nut as well if you desire or no nuts at all!

Once you decide you are ready to create this magnificent chocolate piece of heaven! I can't stress how wonderful these brownies are to eat, really.

This was inspired by my other brownie recipe on this site and pairs well with these delicious chocolate covered blueberries.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Basic Ingredients: These brownies are made with basic baking ingredients, so there's nothing fancy.
Super Easy: This is a simple recipe that even beginners can make. Even browning the butter is simple and only takes a couple of minutes.
Ultra-Fudgy: Brown butter and a full 3 eggs make these brownies so moist and fudgy.
Nutty Flavor: The brown butter adds a nutty undertone that's so good.

Ingredients

You'll only need a handful of basic baking ingredients to make this recipe, and they're all either in your kitchen or at your local grocery store.

Butter: Browned butter gives the brownies an extra deep flavor with subtle, nutty notes.
Cocoa Powder: Cocoa powder adds deep chocolate flavor to the brownies.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a deeper, more caramelized sweetness than regular sugar to the brownies.
Large eggs: A full 3 eggs gives these brownies the extra fat they need to be ultra-fudgy.

Optional

Chopped Pecans or Chopped Walnuts: Nuts and brownies go together like peanut butter and jelly!

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change these brownies with pecans.

You can use your favorite nuts in this recipe. Almost any will work, so have fun with it!
For even deeper flavor, add a little strong coffee.
Adding a little - LITTLE - cayenne pepper accentuates the chocolate flavor and adds a touch of warmth, not heat. Again, only use a TINY AMOUNT.

Instructions

This is a simple brownie recipe with just one added step, and it's an easy one! Even beginners can make it with ease.

Two unwrapped sticks of butter, essential for making rich Brown Butter Brownies, sit in a white bowl. One stick is longer than the other.

Place butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat. Stir with a silicone spatula often.

Top-down view of a container with frothy liquid, showing a brown butter formation resembling a map-like shape floating on the surface.

Bubbles will begin to form and slowly get smaller. The butter will also take on a darker color and you will see small floating brown bits. This will take a total of 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat.

A mixing bowl containing cocoa powder and sugar being blended into a light brown, bubbly liquid for making Brown Butter Brownies.

Add cocoa powder and vanilla to browned butter. Whisk until smooth.

Ingredients including two cracked eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a measuring bowl for delicious brownies.

In a medium mixing bowl, beat brown sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy.

A rich bowl of chocolate mixture is being poured into a bowl of light-colored brownie batter, with a black spatula placed in the lower bowl.

Pour butter mixture into egg mixture and beat well.

A mixing bowl containing chocolate batter for Brown Butter Brownies, with white flour on top and a black spatula ready for mixing.

Add flour and salt and beat again until smooth.

A mixing bowl filled with thick, brown butter brownie batter topped with chopped pecans and a black spatula partially visible in the mixture.

OPTIONAL: Stir in pecans. Reserve some to sprinkle on top.

A square baking dish lined with parchment paper, filled with rich Brown Butter Brownies batter and topped with chopped pecans, ready for baking.

Transfer batter to your prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining pecans on top.

A close-up view of a freshly baked brown butter brownie topped with chopped pecans on a sheet of parchment paper.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

A close-up of nine square Brown Butter Brownies topped with chopped nuts, arranged in a grid. The brownies have a shiny crust and a dense, fudgy texture.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes and slice.

Hint: Fully cool your brownies before slicing them. Super fudgy brownies like this will fall apart if you try to cut them while they're still warm.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy these air fryer turtle brownies, Nutty Condensed Milk Brownies and our Chocolate Chip Brownies.

A stack of three Brown Butter Brownies with a few pecans scattered around. Each brownie is separated by a piece of white parchment paper and has a slightly cracked texture on top.

Storage

Store these brownies at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.

Refrigerator: NEVER refrigerate unfrosted brownies. The cold air dries them out.

Freezer: Wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap and freeze them all in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag.

Defrost: Leave the brownies on the counter until they reach room temperature.

Make Ahead: Brownies should be fully cooled before cutting and serving, so feel free to make them earlier in the day and serve them later.

What to Serve with Brownies

The rich, chocolaty flavor of brownies is perfect with a glass of milk, a cup of coffee or tea, or even a dessert wine if you're feeling fancy. Of course, they're the perfect dessert after a rustic meal, as well.

A hand holding a thick, chocolate brownie with chopped nuts on top. Additional brown butter brownies are visible in the background.

Tips

Browned butter should be a deep amber color with small floating brown bits on top. DO NOT cook it further or it will taste burned.
Be sure your browned butter mixture is cooled a bit before mixing it with the eggs to avoid scrambling them.
Mix the brownie batter until smooth. Unlike other baked goods, brownie batter SHOULD be mixed until completely smooth.

FAQ

Do you have questions about these brown butter brownies? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about brownies with pecans.

How do you know when brown butter is done?

Brown butter is ready when it has a deep golden brown color, a nutty aroma, and visible milk solids at the bottom of the pan.

How do you cook brown butter easily?

To make things easy on yourself, use a light-colored pan so you can see the color of the butter as it cooks. You can also stir the butter or swirl the pan as the butter cooks to ensure even browning and to prevent the milk solids from burning.

What does brown butter do in brownies?

Brown butter adds an extra-rich and nutty flavor to brownies. Because it has less water, it also results in softer, more tender brownies.

A stack of three Brown Butter Brownies with nuts on top, separated by white parchment paper, on a white plate.

Video

More Pecan Recipes

Do you like pecans? Here are some recipes you may also want to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.