foodie fridays: pumpkin brownies with brown sugar icing & candied pecans
I am sucker for a decadent chocolaty, gooey brownie.
Come to think about it, there’s not much I wouldn’t do to consume a brownie – walk over hot coals, chug a gallon of milk (<—-which I hear is really hard to do!), have a pie thrown at my face, or streak through the ol’ neighborhood. That last one could get real awkward. When it comes to dessert, I am on Team Brownie.
Sorry, loyal cake and cupcake groupies, there’s only one rock star dessert poster in my room and that is of Sir Brownie. So imagine how my star-struck eyes filled will thirteen year-old glee when OXO contacted me and wanted to send me their Good Brownie Tool Set for their Bake a Difference campaign for Cookies for Kids Cancer? I screamed TRL-Carson-Daily-top-ten-favorite-video out loud!!!
Check out the goodies they sent me.
I spy with my little brownie-loving eye a 6 piece measuring spoon and cup set (with a sa-weet clip on clip off ring! can’t misplace these fellows), a silicone baking brush, and a brownie spatula (which is my fav!!)
You are probably wondering, Lauren, what’s with all the brownie hype all of a sudden? Well, let me fill you in! OXO will be donating $100 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each blog dedicated to this campaign in September 2013. But that’s not all, OXO will also be donating 25 cents per item to pediatric cancer research when you purchase some of these super fab specially marked products (also in retail stores)! Pretty sweet, huh? I know!
Since this is a bake sale, after all I couldn’t show up with an oil changing kit to sell, I figured these pumpkin brownies with brown sugar frosting and candied pecans would be a hit. These are a take on one of my childhood classic treats that mother used to make, pumpkin bread. Well, y’all know me, I gotta’ mix it up. I figured I would take the usual spices from the bread – cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, ginger and put it into a brownie. These brownies are nothing short of amazing.
So, what do you say? Let’s get to streaking or better yet, make these brownies and bake a difference!
Disclosure: OXO sent me the brownie baking products as a part of their Bake a Difference campaign for Cookies’ for Kids Cancer. I was not compensated for writing this post and all opinions expressed are 100% my own!
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501c(3) public charity duly incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey. Your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. 100% of proceeds raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer fund pediatric cancer research.
Pumpkin Brownies with Brown Sugar Icing & Candied Pecans
Ingredients:
for the brownies:
1 box of your favorite brownie mix
1 15 oz pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon ground cinamonn
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
for the brown sugar icing:
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup cream
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
for the candied pecans:
1 tablespoon sugar in the raw
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons hot water
Directions:
for the brownies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8x8 square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Pour pumpkin batter into baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let the brownies cool before you frost them. Once cooled, spread the brown sugar frosting on top. Top with candied pecans and cut into 9 squares. Enjoy!!
for the brown sugar icing:
Place brown sugar, butter, and cream in a small saucepan. Bring to boil and stir. Remove saucepan from heat. In a large bowl, add confectioners sugar and vanilla. Pour brown sugar over the confectioners mixture and beat until smooth. You may want to set the icing in the fridge for about 5 minutes to let it thicken.
for the candied pecans:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Place the pistachios on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, and chop.
candied pecans adapted from Food and Wine Magazine
brown sugar icing adapted from Roder Family Cookbook
Yay for team brownie!!
I love brownies!! They almost always turn out awesome and they are just so fudgy and gooey and chocolatey! YUMM!! Love these pumpkin brownies and the frosting!! Love the frosting!! Perfect way to ring in fall!
Thanks, Tieghan! I am so ready for fall! Are the leaves changing in the mountains yet?
I love ooey gooey brownies! I always forget about them, but you’re re-sparking my love! These pumpkin ones sound ah.mazing. Plus anything with frosting is the best in my book!
Thanks, Alaina! You can never go wrong with a delicious gooey brownie!
Lauren!! these are gorgeous! I made pumpkin brownies, but now I don’t know if I can post them- they look so sad next to these gorgeous mouthfuls!!
Thanks, Heather! You have to post your pumpkin brownies! I know they will be beautiful! Have a great weekend:)
Pinned and craving!
Thanks, Maria! Have a fab weekend!
I’m totally on Team Brownie with you!!
As much as I love cakes / cupcakes, there’s something about the ooey gooeyness of a good brownie that takes it to the next level!!
And those measuring spoons… LOVE them. I bought a set a couple months ago because I’m a sucker for kitchen stuff and they are awesome!! The clip on-off ring… Perfection!
Right?! It’s so simple, yet creative. OXO does an amazing job with products. And I hope you have a delicious, decadent weekend!
Mmm I love fall flavors mixed into brownies!
Me too! Thanks, Erin! Have a great weekend!
Hey I’m attempting to make these today I have a question, do you only need pumpkin puree for the wet ingredients no eggs?
Thanks
Elena
Hi Elena! Great question. Since I used a boxed brownie mix, I didn’t include the ingredients it requires on the box because some boxed brownie mixtures are different. So, depending on what brand you buy, follow their instructions and then add the pumpkin puree to the mix. Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!
Brownies and I are BFF’s….I need to make the acquaintance of these gems asap!
YESSSSSSS, you dew! Thanks, Kelli!!
GAH! I can taste them right now! Pumpkin, chocolate, brown sugar, pecans…bam bam bam! I need to get my hands on some of those brownie tools! Little too much coffee for me this morning…
I am thinking I may need to make another batch for this weekend! Totally craving these again:)
Gotta love the chocolate and pumpkin combo! And that icing looks delish!!
Thanks, Anna! Have a great weekend!
These look like the best thing ever-ever-ever x 1,000,000. I’m love drunk just looking at em’.
I want to stuff my face with these!
I got the brownie kit also!! And am loving it. But then again…who doesn’t love an excuse to eat brownies?! Especially ones doused in frosting. Overkill? I think NOT.
This looks amazing! So rich. And that frosting…just hand me a spoon!
Brownies are my absolute favourite too and even better when they’re for a good cause!
I’m such a sucker for brownies too, especially when icing is involved!
Love the idea of pumpkin bread and brownies combined, but SO disappointed that you start with a brownie MIX 🙁
Hi Heather! Sorry to disappoint. I’m not much of a baker, especially living at high altitude. The recipe will work with any regular homemade chocolate brownie batter. I hope you try! Thanks for your comment:)
Just so I’m clear. You don’t need to add the eggs and oil that most brownie mixed require? Or would you add both the pumpkin and the eggs and oil? Thanks
Hi Colleen! Yes, you would add the oil and eggs to the brownie mix along with the pumpkin. Sorry for the confusion:)
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