German Chocolate Brownies: homemade chewy brownies topped with coconut pecan frosting, and drizzled with melted chocolate. It doesn’t get better than this!
Imagine the fudgiest brownies topped with gooey coconut and toasted pecans. Doesn’t that sound like a slice of heaven? This kind of recipe gets me every time, haha! German Chocolate Brownies are always a hit.
It’s like eating a slice of German Chocolate Cake but in brownie form! This has been a favorite recipe in my family for ages, and it’s perfect for special occasions, potlucks, or when you just want a special treat.
I’ll admit I am a brownie person. If I’m not careful, I’ll eat half the pan of brownies before anyone else even gets to them! That being said, you don’t have to be a super brownie lover like me to enjoy these little delights.
You’ll know just from the sight of these that they are something special. Actually, the smell alone will have your mouth watering. If I could bottle that smell, I swear I would be rich, haha! Maybe that’s just my obsession with brownies coming out.
And oh, the topping… the evaporated milk, sugar, butter, and egg yolks come together to make something sweet and delicious. Then we mix in coconut, pecans, and vanilla! Like I said before, this dessert is Heaven!
Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to make them repeatedly! I even got Jeremy in on these, and he’s not a German chocolate fan! Don’t hold it against him. He’s a good sport helping me with all my concoctions.
This German Chocolate Brownies recipe is simply the best, and you’ll agree once you try it out.
Some of our other favorite brownie recipes we have on our site include: Reese’s Stuffed Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies, Lemon Brownies, and Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Fudgy Brownies: We’re aiming for the most perfect fudgy texture, and this brownie base does just that. This stuff melts in your mouth and keeps you coming back for more. They’re better than any boxed brownie mix, I’ll tell you that.
- Gooey Topping: The luscious coconut pecan frosting is the stuff of dreams. It perfectly complements the brownie base. That, coupled with melted chocolate, drizzled on top of everything? It’s magical.
- No Special Equipment: All you need is a large saucepan and a baking dish. No mixers are required. You’re going to have ooey-gooey brownies made completely by hand.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Salted butter
- German chocolate baking bar
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Fine sea salt
- All-purpose flour
- Evaporated milk
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Toasted chopped pecans
- Melted chocolate melting wafers (optional for garnish)
HOW TO MAKE GERMAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIES:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray, set aside.
- Place the cut butter into a large pot or dutch oven, begin to melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Break up the chocolate bar into squares and add them to the pot, stirring occasionally, melt the chocolate with the butter until smooth.
- Take off the heat and whisk in the sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and whisk them in fully before adding the next.
- Whisk in the vanilla and salt. Add the flour and stir it in until fully combined with no dry patches.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35-38 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Place on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the brownies are cool, make the topping. Place the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and egg yolks into a medium-sized saucepot.
- Place over medium-low heat and stir together. Stir occasionally until the butter has melted.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer while still stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom. Once it hits a simmer and thickens slightly take it off the heat, about 12 minutes.
- Add the coconut, pecans, and vanilla. Stir it in to combine. Continue to stir until it becomes thickened and spreadable, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the frosting on top of the brownies and smooth it out. Let it cool completely.
- Cut into bars and drizzle with melted chocolate mixture if using, serve immediately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT MAKES THIS GERMAN CHOCOLATE?
It’s all about the German chocolate baking bar.
This bar has a lighter chocolate flavor compared to other types of chocolate, making it unique.
Even the topping is what you would put on a traditional German chocolate cake. We’re going all in!
DO I HAVE TO TOAST THE COCONUT AND PECANS?
Toasting is optional but highly recommended. It brings a deeper flavor to the coconut and pecans.
If you’re short on time, you can certainly skip it. However, getting them toasted will give you a richer German chocolate experience!
ANY ADDITIONS?
You bet your boots! There are a ton of variations for these brownies.
- Add a drizzle of caramel sauce on top.
- Sprinkle some sea salt for a salty-sweet vibe.
- Add chocolate chips to the brownie base for extra chocolatiness.
- A dollop of whipped cream for serving.
- Chopped peanuts, pecans, or walnuts for extra crunch.
- Sliced almonds can add a different nutty taste.
- Mini marshmallows for a rocky-road twist.
- A scoop of ice cream while the brownies are still warm.
- A dash of espresso powder to the brownie mix for coffee lovers.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
I’ve got just a few ideas for subs, and here they are!
- Substitute semi-sweet chocolate for German chocolate.
- Use coconut milk instead of evaporated milk for the topping.
- Replace pecans with walnuts.
- Use unsalted butter and add a teaspoon of salt.
- Brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for a deeper flavor.
- Coconut oil as a substitute for butter in the frosting.
HOW TO STORE:
Refrigerator: Keep the brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Yes, these need to be kept refrigerated due to the frosting. They are best eaten at room temperature, so allow them to sit on the countertop before enjoying.
I like to put aluminum foil over the top of the dish I made them in. Easy peasy!
Freezer: If freezing, individually wrap each brownie in plastic wrap and then place them in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 3 months.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Sift the flour for the smoothest brownie base.
- For easy cleanup, use parchment paper to line your baking dish.
- Cut your pecans and coconut into small pieces for an even layer of topping.
- Use a rubber spatula to make sure you get every last bit of that delicious coconut pecan frosting onto your brownies.
- If you’re a chocolate lover (like me), feel free to double the chocolate melting wafers for extra garnish.
- If you’re toasting the coconut and pecans, keep a close eye so they don’t burn. They should take around 8-10 minutes in the oven at medium heat.
German Chocolate Brownies are the best of two worlds: you get the fudgy, chocolatey goodness of brownies, plus the gooey, nutty delight of coconut pecan frosting.
They’re perfect for when you want to go beyond the regular brownie and head into decadent dessert territory. So, why not take your baking to the next level with this amazing recipe? Happy Baking!
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If you’ve tried this GERMAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIES, let me know how it turned out in the comments! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Best German Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter cut into tablespoons
- 4 ounce German chocolate baking bar
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour sifted
For the topping:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup salted butter cut into tablespoons
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 & 1/2 cups toasted coconut
- 1 cup toasted chopped pecans
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Melted chocolate melting wafers for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray, set aside.
- Place the cut butter into a large pot or dutch oven, begin to melt the butter over medium-low heat.1 cup salted butter
- Break up the chocolate bar into squares and add them to the pot, stirring occasionally, melt the chocolate with the butter until smooth.4 ounce German chocolate baking bar
- Take off the heat and whisk in the sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and whisk them in fully before adding the next.2 cups granulated sugar, 4 large eggs
- Whisk in the vanilla and salt. Add the flour and stir it in until fully combined with no dry patches.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35-38 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
- Place on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the brownies are cool, make the topping. Place the sugar, evaporated milk, butter, and egg yolks into a medium-sized saucepot.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup evaporated milk, 1/2 cup salted butter, 3 large egg yolks
- Place over medium-low heat and stir together. Stir occasionally until the butter has melted.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer while still stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom. Once it hits a simmer and thickens slightly take it off the heat, about 12 minutes.
- Add the coconut, pecans, and vanilla. Stir it in to combine. Continue to stir until it becomes thickened and spreadable, about 5 minutes.1 & 1/2 cups toasted coconut, 1 cup toasted chopped pecans, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pour the frosting on top of the brownies and smooth it out. Let it cool completely.
- Cut into bars and drizzle with melted chocolate mixture if using, serve immediately.Melted chocolate melting wafers for garnish
Notes
- Sift the flour for the smoothest brownie base.
- For easy cleanup, use parchment paper to line your baking dish.
- Cut your pecans and coconut into small pieces for an even layer of topping.
- Use a rubber spatula to make sure you get every last bit of that delicious coconut pecan frosting onto your brownies.
- If you’re a chocolate lover (like me), feel free to double the chocolate melting wafers for extra garnish.
- If you’re toasting the coconut and pecans, keep a close eye so they don’t burn. They should take around 8-10 minutes in the oven at medium heat.
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