I like to think of myself as a politically correct person, but not all brownies are created equal. There are some that are chewy and gooey with a fudgy center, while others are cakey with a need for a thick layer chocolaty frosting on top. And some brownies are topped with swirls of peanut butter, marshmallow fluff or sprinkles of sorts, but then there are these brownies with a deeply brown nutty praline topping that should not be ignored.
Pralines are those brown sugar based candies from New Orleans that sometimes you see handed out for desserts in Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles. The combination of a softened sugary crunch with chopped pecans is a candy connoisseurs dream and to enjoy it on top of a chocolate butter-based brownie is even more of a dream.
The combination of the two flavors supersedes any brownie you have even so far and trust me – they are not complicated to make. Both batters are hand-stirred and layered in a pan to bake – pretty quick for a delightful treat, don’t you think?
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
8 tablespoons butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Praline Topping
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoons salt
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
(Makes 24 Bars)
To Prepare:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil. For brownie layer – melt butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute, stir. Heat for 30 more seconds and stir until completely melted. Add sugar, vanilla and salt , stir. Add eggs one at a time and stir until incorporated. Add flour and stir until shiny, about 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan, smooth out on top. Set aside.
- For praline layer – In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, set aside. In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar and salt. Add yolks and vanilla, stir. Add flour mixture and nuts and stir until combined. Dollop praline mixture over brownie layer (it will completely cover brownie layer when baked).
- Bake in the oven for 22-25 minutes or until deep golden brown on top. Remove from oven and let cool completely in pan before slicing. Enjoy!
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