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Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe

October 9, 2017 by April Harris 42 Comments

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Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe
This Old-Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe may be the most delicious brownie recipe I have ever tasted. These pecan-studded beauties are light, seriously chocolatey, and dangerously more-ish. The recipe is adapted from an old Betty Crocker cookbook – my tried and true ‘Cooky Book’ (that’s really how they spelled it!) which I bought when I was 10 years old. And like my Old-Fashioned Spice Cake, this recipe is yet another example of how vintage recipes really can be the best recipes.

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Vintage recipes are also often the easiest recipes. This Applesauce Pecan Brownie recipe can be made entirely in a saucepan, and takes just moments to stir together with a wooden spoon. As always, the best way to make a recipe like this is to assemble all your ingredients first, measure them, and do anything else that needs to be done, like chopping nuts or sifting dry ingredients together, before you start.

Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe

You honestly can’t taste the applesauce in these brownies – but while I’d like to say it makes them healthy, that would be stretching the truth. But with dark chocolate, applesauce and pecans in the mix, I can say these brownies are definitely wholesome.

The applesauce gives a gorgeous texture and lightness plus it also helps the brownies to keep really well. I kept a few in a sealed container for five days at cool room temperature and they still tasted delicious on day five.  Be sure to use very smooth applesauce for this recipe. If you make your own, I suggest puréeing it to get a really smooth texture. I’ve done that with leftover Crockpot Apple and Pear Sauce and it worked really well in this recipe.

Use A Good Rich Chocolate and Cocoa Powder

It doesn’t sound like there is a lot of chocolate in these brownies, but they do taste unbelievably chocolatey. You want to use good dark chocolate and cocoa for this recipe because it absolutely makes a difference. I recommend Green and Black’s or Cadbury’s Bournville chocolate and their cocoa too, simply because we love the flavour. Occasional I’ll use a darker chocolate with 70% cocoa solids for an even deeper, darker chocolate hit.

You may know this already, but when it comes to cocoa, you need to buy one that is specifically for baking or making hot drinks from scratch. In the UK, you can also buy cocoa labelled ‘drinking chocolate’. Do not use drinking chocolate for baking!! It contains a mix of cocoa powder, sugar and often powdered milk which doesn’t give a good flavour at all. For baking, you want pure cocoa with nothing else added.

Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe

This was a challenging recipe to adapt. It wasn’t because of how it is made, but because while I have become a master of the three bite taste test (flavour, texture, and one for good measure), this Applesauce Pecan Brownie recipe was downright irresistible. It made following my healthy eating plan very tricky!

Applesauce Pecan Brownies are indescribably good served with a glass of Pinot Noir – again not really a part of my healthy eating plan, but lovely nonetheless. And not for your kids, of course. I’d stick with milk for them.

Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter
2 ounces (57 grams) dark chocolate
1 cup granulated or caster sugar
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup smooth applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup all-purpose (plain) flour
¼ cup cocoa
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup pecans, roughly chopped

Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 165° for fan ovens, gas mark 4).

Lightly grease a 9 x 9 x 1¾ inch (23 x 23 x 5 cm) square baking pan.

Heat the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly, until they melt together.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sugar, applesauce and vanilla. Then stir in the beaten eggs.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together and stir them into the mixture in the saucepan.

Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth, then stir in the chopped pecans.

Spread the batter in the pan, smoothing the top.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched lightly.

Cool completely (or for as long as you can resist) before cutting and serving. They do slice better when they are at room temperature!

Printable Recipe

5.0 from 8 reviews
Old Fashioned Applesauce Pecan Brownie Recipe
 
Print
Author: adapted from The Betty Crocker Cooky Book
Serves: 16 brownies
Ingredients
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 ounces (57 grams) dark chocolate
  • 1 cup granulated or caster sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ½ cup smooth applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¾ cup all-purpose (plain) flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 165° for fan ovens, gas mark 4).
  2. Lightly grease a 9 x 9 x 1¾ inch (23 x 23 x 5 cm) square baking pan.
  3. Heat the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the two ingredients melt together.
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sugar, applesauce and vanilla. Then stir in the beaten eggs.
  5. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together and stir into the mixture in the saucepan.
  6. Beat with a wooden spoon until smooth, then stir in the chopped pecans.
  7. Spread the batter in the pan, smoothing the top.
  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched lightly.
  9. Cool completely (or for as long as you can resist) before cutting and serving. The brownies do slice better when they are at room temperature!
3.4.3177

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Filed Under: Brownies, Chocolate, Desserts, Featured Front Page Slider, Food, Recipes Tagged With: applesauce brownies, brownies, brownies with nuts, brownies with pecans, old fashioned brownies

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Comments

  1. Linda | Your Daily Food Choices says

    September 16, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    Oh my! These brownies look and sound heavenly. Brownies and red wine! You are my kind of gal!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      Thank you so much, Linda 🙂

      Reply
  2. Platter Talk says

    September 16, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    Thank you for this homemade recipe for brownies using applesauce. I just made some packaged brownies & subbed applesauce for the oil. They turned out fine! Love the pecans in yours, too.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:03 pm

      I’m glad you like the recipe, Dan, thank you 🙂

      Reply
  3. Boastful Food says

    September 16, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    These sound amazing and look super moist! I need to try these!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      Thank you – they really are moist and delicious!

      Reply
  4. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    September 16, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    I love pecans so much in desserts! And I love brownies, so two of my favorite flavors combined! YUM!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      I’m glad you like the recipe, Sophie. I love pecans too!

      Reply
  5. Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says

    September 16, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    Love recipes that can just be whipped up in a sauce pan! The addition of apple sauce and pecans here is amazing! Love it!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:06 pm

      Thank you, Vicky 🙂

      Reply
  6. Melissa Gross says

    September 19, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Those brownies look so yummy! (Just popped over from Venture Camp.)

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:10 pm

      Thank you, Melissa! And thank you for visiting too 🙂 I will be over to see you in the next day or so – I’m just catching up at the moment!

      Reply
  7. Marisa González says

    September 19, 2016 at 3:33 pm

    Hello April, thanks a lot for dropping by. Glad, you’ ve liked my jam. The Albariño wine is from Galicia and is fantastic.
    Love your brownie with applesauce and pecans. I’ m also fond of vintage recipes.
    Cheers from València.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 19, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      Hello Marisa, I’m always interested in wines from different places 🙂 Thank you for the compliment about the brownies. Aren’t vintage recipes fantastic?! Cheers 🙂

      Reply
  8. Winnie says

    September 19, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    Oh I loooooooooove how they look!
    Moist and rich and great combination of flavors.
    I’m planning to make them as dessert for our next weekend meals 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 20, 2016 at 9:33 am

      Thank you so much, Winnie! I hope you enjoy them – please let me know what you think 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says

    September 19, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    April, I haven’t used applesauce in my baking in sooo long. Thank you for the reminder! These brownies look delightful (with a nice cuppa tea)!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 20, 2016 at 9:34 am

      They really are lovely with a nice cuppa tea, Jean 🙂

      Reply
  10. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    September 21, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    I love brownies of every kind! These look delicious. Apple sauce is such a great way to moisten baked goods.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:23 pm

      Thank you, Sophia! I love brownies of every kind too 🙂

      Reply
  11. Lisa | Garlic + Zest says

    September 21, 2016 at 11:01 pm

    You are singing my song! These look fabulous!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:24 pm

      Thank you, Lisa 🙂

      Reply
  12. Renz says

    September 22, 2016 at 12:54 am

    These look perfect texture. I love the fact that it uses applesauce. Def will try these.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:24 pm

      Thank you, Renz. I hope you love them as much as we do!

      Reply
  13. Jenn says

    September 22, 2016 at 1:43 am

    Give me all the brownies!! I love applesauce in brownies and these sound perfect!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Thank you, Jenn 🙂

      Reply
  14. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

    September 22, 2016 at 12:20 pm

    These brownies look amazing! I know for a fact that they sure wouldn’t last 5 days in my house 🙂

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Thank you, Shashi!

      Reply
  15. Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says

    September 22, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    Oh dear Lord April…you are weakening my resolve to stay away from goodies after our Italy vacation…your brownies look incredible! <3

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 25, 2016 at 11:14 am

      Oh bless you, Linda! Thank you 🙂 They are hard to resist 😉

      Reply
  16. Miz Helen says

    September 23, 2016 at 9:18 pm

    Hi April,
    It is always so good to have you at the party. Your Brownies look so moist and delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with us today at Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 25, 2016 at 11:16 am

      Hi Miz Helen, Thank you so much! I hope you have a lovely weekend too.

      Reply
  17. Hadia says

    September 26, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    Your brownies look utterly delicious, April!They look so moist and I love the idea that it can be whipped up in a saucepan! Pinning and tweeting!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 27, 2016 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you, Hadia! They really are one of my favourites 🙂 Thank you for pinning and tweeting too!

      Reply
  18. swathi says

    September 27, 2016 at 12:21 am

    Delicious April my kids will love it.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      September 27, 2016 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you, Swathi. I’m sure they will 🙂

      Reply
  19. angie says

    October 10, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    these sound mighty hungry, apple sauce with pecans awesome flavor perfect for fall. I love brownies as well so I am in for these
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      October 11, 2017 at 10:40 pm

      I’m glad you like them, Angie 🙂

      Reply
  20. Jess says

    October 11, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    These sound amazing! What a neat idea! 🙂

    I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      October 11, 2017 at 10:41 pm

      Thank you, Jess! I will definitely share 🙂

      Reply
  21. Crystal Green says

    October 17, 2017 at 11:25 pm

    These look delicious! I love a good moist brownie that is filled with a good chocolate taste.

    Reply
    • April Harris says

      October 18, 2017 at 5:36 pm

      Thank you so much, Crystal 🙂

      Reply

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