Easy Simple Caramel-Pecan Brownies

Brownies are a standby staple dessert for my family!

What are some of your families' favorites?

There are lots of ways to spice up an ordinary brownie,

like topping them with homemade caramel and toasted pecans!

Sound luscious? ...they sinfully are!

{Please excuse the picture quality, taken with my Ipad.}

My mom gave me this wonderful cookbook for Christmas,

but the recipes are great for entertaining anytime of the year!

I'll share the recipe in it's entirety,

but first I have a confession to make,

in this instance, I took a shortcut
 and used box brownie mix for the base.

Simple Brownies 

Makes 4 dozen

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1 - 4 oz unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped

3/4 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

Chocolate Frosting - optional

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6-8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

2.  Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30 second intervals.  Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended.  Stir in flour, Spread batter into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

4. Optional- (If not using Caramel-Pecan Topping) Chocolate Frosting... Pour over warm brownies; spread to edges.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack.  Cut into squares.

Caramel-Pecan Topping

Prepare recipe as directed above, through Step 3.  Cool 1 hour on a wire rack.  Combine 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 2 tbsp butter, and 1/4 tsp salt in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Remove from heat.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.  Pour over brownies, spreading to edges, sprinkle with toasted pecans.  Cool 30 minutes.

My family didn't get to enjoy this batch of delicious brownies.
They were prettied up and sent to a church auction.
For a good cause, they didn't complain too terribly.  :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
~Rhonda

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