Put a fun twist on a Thanksgiving classic! Chocolate Coconut Pecan Pie Brownies

I love pecans. And pecan pie is basically pecans swimming in a pool of caramel. And yet, pecan pie has never been a favorite.

But look how pretty that pecan pie looks sitting in the window of this pie shop I stumbled across in a small Texas town.

Travel Texas – Jefferson, Texas

Many, many months ago my husband and I took a day trip to Jefferson, Texas. And while exploring Jefferson we walked past that pie shop, and I got pecan pies stuck in my head.

Once the sixth-largest town in Texas, Jefferson was named after the President Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson was founded in 1841, which makes it a pretty old city in Texas. At the time a log jam on the Red River raised the level of both Caddo Lake the Red River high enough to allow for commercial riverboat travel to Jefferson from places like St. Louis and New Orleans from the Mississippi and Red Rivers. For awhile Jefferson was one of the most important ports in Texas.

Eventually the log jam was removed, and the lake and river levels lowered to the point where riverboat traffic was no longer commercially feasible.

Walking around Jefferson you’ll quickly notice historical markers at almost every corner.

Our main stop was this bistro. But I love exploring small towns, so we spent plenty of time walking around the downtown.

The Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson is the oldest hotel in Texas and is location in downtown. Welcoming travelers since 1858 guests have included Oscar Wilde, Ulysses S. Grant, and Lady Bird Johnson.

Across the street from the hotel you’ll find Jay Gould’s railroad car. The town of Jefferson rejected Gould’s bid to pass his railroad through the town, but now his special train car is on display to see.

Lots of fun shops and antique stores.

If you love ghost tours, Jefferson has plenty of those happening, too! Jefferson boasts to being one of the most haunted cities in the country.

And you can still walk around the History and Nature Center and see the Jefferson Rail Road Bridge that crosses over Big Cypress Bayou.

Okay, now back to those Pecan Pie Brownies.

A few years ago I learned to add bacon to pecan pie and that was a game changer. Now I have another delicious twist.

Pecan Pie Brownies

• Brownie mix
• Sugar
• Light Corn Syrup
• Eggs
• Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Pecans
• Coconut

Turns out pecan pie and chocolate is a perfect match. I used a dark chocolate brownie mix and it was perfect.

Mix the brownie mix according to the directions on the box. While that is cooking you make the topping.

Taking the brownies out of the oven just before they are done, you pour the pecan and coconut mixture over the top and then pop the pan back in the oven to finish baking. 

Let everything cool and then slice and serve. It’s extra delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Pecan Pie Brownies

Yield: 20 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 box Brownie mix, plus ingredients listed on the box (must make a 13"x9" pan)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups pecans, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Instructions

1. Preheat oven according to the instructions on the brownie mix and prepare a pan for the brownies.
2. Mix brownies according to the package instructions.
3. Pour brownies into a greased 13"x9" pan and place in the oven to bake for about 20 minutes.
4. While the brownies are baking, whisk together the sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter, and vanilla in a saucepan on medium-high heat. Stir continuously.
5. After about 15 minutes the mixture should have thickened enough to coat a spoon. Add the pecans and coconut and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove the brownies from the oven and pour the pecan pie filling over them. Spread out the filling to cover the brownies.
7. Place the brownies back in the oven and cook for another 10-15 minutes. (Until the filling only wiggles slightly in the middle when you move the pan.)
8. Let brownies cool to room temperature. Slice and serve.

Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes? Try this Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread!