Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful apple brownies that combine the classic rich taste of butter and sugar with fresh apple chunks and toasted pecans. This dessert offers a perfect balance of sweetness, a hint of cinnamon spice, and a satisfying crunch, making it an ideal treat for any season.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, salted, room temperature (112 g)
- 1 cup sugar (200 g)
- 1 egg
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (133 g)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped apple pieces (100 g)
- ½ cup toasted pecan pieces (53 g)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) to ensure it’s ready for baking the apple brownies.
- Toast Pecans: In a small pan, toast the pecan pieces over medium heat until they become fragrant and slightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside to cool, which enhances their nutty flavor.
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into approximately 1/2 inch pieces. Fresh apples add moisture and texture to the brownies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature salted butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air for a tender crumb.
- Add Egg: Beat in the egg until fully combined and the mixture remains fluffy, helping the brownie batter bind well.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add this to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to prevent overworking the batter.
- Incorporate Apples and Pecans: Fold in the chopped apples and toasted pecans, mixing well. The batter will be sticky and moist due to the apple juice.
- Bake the Brownies: Pour and press the batter evenly into a buttered or parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean. This usually takes about 35 minutes.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes to set properly before slicing.
- Serve: Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature. These apple brownies pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence.
Notes
- Use firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for the best texture and flavor contrast.
- Ensure butter is at room temperature to achieve a light and fluffy mix.
- To keep the pecans fresh and crunchy, toast them just before adding.
- Baking times can vary depending on your oven; check starting at 30 minutes to avoid overbaking.
- For a gluten-free variation, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- These brownies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square (approx. 60g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: apple brownies, apple dessert, pecan brownies, cinnamon apple dessert, easy brownie recipe, baked apple treats
