German Chocolate Brownies

Match a rich brownie with this delicious coconut and pecan frosting and you’ve got German Chocolate Brownies.

We are indeed in strange times and our daily lives are going through so much turmoil maybe we need something comforting like these German Chocolate Brownies.

I hope everyone of you that is reading this post is taking good care of yourself and your families; we truly are in this together.

My intent over the next several weeks will be to try and deliver some delicious recipes like this German Chocolate Brownie that are relatively easy to prepare and offer up a treat that might comfort.

I have been absolutely gobsmacked for German Chocolate Cake ever since I can remember. As a young girl my mom would make it for my birthday using a box cake mix and the convenience food of the day…a box of dried ingredients that you added butter and warm water to.

As I got old enough to bake on my own in our kitchen, the same box cake would suffice but ready made frostings had segued to canned and ready prepared frosting.

I honestly loved those then, but once you do like I did several years ago and try the cake from scratch, there is simply no going back.

I believe my recipe is actually derived from the original one on the inside of a box of German’s Sweet Chocolate.

Check out my post for German Chocolate Cake to get the real skinny on why it’s named that!

The only problem with craving a German Chocolate Cake? They’re time consuming to make. So I decided recently that I had to try a brownie version. If I’m perfectly honest, it is that frosting that makes it…delivering it on a cake or a brownie hardly matters and actually on a brownie there is a greater frosting to cake ratio anyhow…I’m good with that!

It was really quite simple to transition from a cake to these German Chocolate Brownies. I have a favorite recipe for brownies that I simply mix up with either different nuts or chocolate chips in the batter.

For this brownie, no nuts went in the batter but there are a nice handful of milk chocolate chips. If you have a preference for semi-sweet chips, use those certainly. This recipe for Gooey Brownies with Toasted Pecans and White Chocolate Chips is my go to and the method is as easy as this:

1. Prepare the pan – I always use both pan spray and parchment paper to prep pans…the paper is a great insurance policy against having your brownies (or cakes) stick to the pan. Once you start using the paper, you’ll feel the same as I do…never worrying about something sticking to a pan is all good.
2. Melt the butter and chocolate and then combine it with the remaining ingredients in a large pot; no electric mixer or bowls required.
3. Bake the brownies; being careful to test them and remove from the oven as soon as there is no batter sticking to a toothpick. These brownies are of the gooey variety; a toothpick should come out clean but the batter will never be dry. Without a leavening agent like baking soda, they are gooey, not a cake type brownie.
4. While the brownies are baking, make the frosting. When the brownies are removed from the oven let them cool completely before topping them with the gooey, nutty, coconut topping. I could literally eat it with a spoon.
5. Cut into portions and indulge!

Most of the ingredients for these German Chocolate Brownies are pretty typical pantry and refrigerator items save for maybe the cream?

In a pinch, use milk. They won’t be quite as rich but will still be awesome. Try not to finish off the frosting with a spoon before the brownies get topped, OK?

I took the tray I made and cut them into serving sizes and while I shared some with neighbors, the ones left over are now wrapped individually in my freezer. We all need comfort food sometimes; I like knowing I’ve got some held aside for those days.

Take good care and stay safe…Barb

PIN IT! ‘German Chocolate Brownies’

German Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Barbara Baker

A brownie version of German Chocolate Cake. Same wonderful flavors but easier to make!

4.75 from 50 or more votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecake

Cuisine American

Servings 30 Brownies

Calories 244 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Cake

• ½ cup butter 8 Tablespoons
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips

For the Coconut Pecan Frosting

• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 3 large egg yolks
• ⅓ teaspoon salt
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup toasted pecans finely chopped
• 1 ½ cup toasted sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

 

To Make the Brownies

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan well with cooking spray; line with parchment paper; set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir until melted.
• Remove from heat; add the brown sugar and vanilla and stir until mixture is smooth.
• Whisk in the eggs. Add the flour and salt. Stir until combined.
• Stir in the milk chocolate chips and pour the dough into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake 30-35 minutes (start checking at 25 minutes if you like your brownies like I do) or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
• Let cool completely before frosting.

To Make the Frosting and Finish the Brownies

• In saucepan combine cream, sugar, egg yolks, and salt. Cook over medium low heat until the mixture comes to a low boil. Stir constantly.
• Once it boils and has thickened, remove from heat and add the butter, vanilla, pecans, and coconut. Stir until the butter has melted and everything is combined.
• Let sit at room temperature until cooled. It will cool faster if you scoop it out of the pot and put it into a bowl. Once the bornies and frosting have cooled, spread the frosting and let sit for at least 30 minutes (if possible) before cutting.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

German Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Serving Size

 

1 Serving

Amount per Serving

Calories

244

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

14

g

22

%

Cholesterol

 

57

mg

19

%

Sodium

 

108

mg

5

%

Carbohydrates

 

28

g

9

%

Protein

 

3

g

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Calories

244

Keyword brownies, chocolate, dessert, german chocolate

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!