Air Fryer Brownies with Pecans
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Rich chocolate brownies are studded with pecan pieces and they are made in the air fryer so you don’t have to heat up the whole kitchen.
We love brownies in our house. It’s one of those things that I learned to make from scratch many years ago. While I could buy a box mix, it’s just as easy and ten times better to make them myself.
The base recipe for most of my recipes comes from me tweaking Hershey’s Best Brownie recipe. Over the years I’ve created many twists on the traditional recipe with my favorite being Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies.
For the richest brownie I love Duff’s “The Brownie” with three different types of chocolate in it. Whenever I’m serving treats to kids these easy S’mores Brownies cannot be beat. For a taste of nostalgia I go for Copycat Cosmic Brownies with bright candies on top.
While I’ve made so many types of brownies one thing stays the same. I always make the brownies in my oven. So when I found a recipe that made them in the Air Fryer I couldn’t wait to give it a try.
Why you’ll love Air Fryer Brownies:
One reason I love these brownies is because I don’t have to turn on the oven. So when it’s hot outside it’s great to be able to make them in the air fryer. Another reason air fryer brownies are a winner is that you only need a few minutes to preheat the air fryer as opposed to 15-20 minutes to heat up the oven. Not only that, air fryer brownies turn out rich and gooey every time. If you follow the method they will come out perfect without too much effort.
What type of air fryer should i use?
This is totally personal preference. My first two air fryers were the basket models that pulled out and only had one area to cook on. If you prefer this type of air fryer then the COSORI air fryers are a great choice. However, now that I use my air fryer daily and leave it on the counter I love my two layer Ninja Air Fryer that folds up. It has much more space, circulates the air better, and folds up to save space.
These brownies contain two different types of chocolate in them. The first type is sweetened chocolate. I like to use semisweet chocolate but you could also use bittersweet, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate if you prefer.
The second type of chocolate is unsweetened cocoa powder. For this batch I used half regular unsweetened cocoa powder and half black cocoa powder. You can also use Dutch processed cocoa powder if you like a darker chocolate brownie.
There are toasted pecans in this air fryer brownie recipe as well. Make sure the pecans are toasted before using them in the brownie to give them a better flavor and texture.
How do you toast pecans?
To toast pecans preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Layer the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, for even baking. You can toast them on the stove top by putting the pecans in a single layer in a skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant.
Ingredients:
- salted butter (or unsalted if you prefer)
- semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
- all purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- salt
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- toasted pecans
To make the brownie spray an 8 inch cake pan with baking spray. You can also place a parchment circle on the bottom if desired.
Heat a saucepan with 2-3 inches of water on the stove top. Place a metal bowl on top to make a double boiler and add the butter and semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. Cook, stirring frequently, until it is melted.
Remove the bowl from the top of the saucepan.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. In another medium bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.
Add the melted butter and chocolate to the egg mixture and mix until combined. Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in the pecans.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Put the pan in an air fryer and bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with crumbs. (Times will vary depending on the air fryer so check as soon as 17 or 18 minutes but it could take as long as 30 minutes).
These brownies are so rich and fudgy. The pecans add a nice texture and tone down the sweetness of the brownie. Air Fryer brownies are the perfect bite.
They are perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a bit of whipped cream and caramel sauce. Dress them up or serve them as is.
How do you store Air Fryer Brownies?
Store the brownies in the pan they are baked in with foil or plastic wrap on top for up to 3 days. You can also cut the brownies into pieces and store in an air tight container for up to 5 days.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. salted butter
- 1/2 c. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
- 1/2 c. all purpose flour
- 6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. toasted pecan pieces
Instructions
- Spray an 8 inch cake pan with baking spray and set aside.
- Heat several inches of water in a saucepan until simmering. Place a metal bowl on top of the pan making sure it doesn’t touch the water. Add the butter and semisweet or bittersweet chocolate. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter and chocolate are melted. Remove the bowl.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Add in the melted chocolate and butter mixture and mix until well combined.
- Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Fold in the pecans.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and place it in the air fryer.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just crumbs.
- Remove from oven and cool for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
