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Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies

Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies

Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies1

I have these moments. These "how have I lived this long without this?" moments that seem to reveal an incompleteness prior to the revelation that I was unaware of.

Beer was a big one. Realizing in the dawn of my beer drinking days that "imported" didn’t mean better, it meant, arguably, worse. The only thing  I knew for sure about the "imported" beer was that it wasn’t fresh, and was most likely stale and destroyed from months of shipping in warm containers.

Cocoa powder is another. There is a vast difference in taste between cheap brands, and craft brands. Rich, dark, silken texture gives you an elevated result. Your chocolate desserts taste Nordstrom instead of Walmart. It’s like a secret ingredient that’s hidden in plain sight. Why you can make the same brownie recipe as your neighbor, but yours just taste better, and no one can figure out how you do it.

Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies3

There there was salt. Salt, in general, is grossly underused by most home cooks, but that’s not the only revelation. Good salt. Great salt. Every time my passport has been stamped as I return to the USA, It has always been with a pouch of salt in my bag.

Honey and salt will always return with me from any destination. Smoked salt is my favorite, it’s transformative. Step far, far away from the iodized salt and immediately replace it with Kosher. Buy some French Gray, and some Himalayan Pink and a ton of Smoked Maldon and you’ll be off to a good start.

Coconut was another.  Ever since the most loathsome of all Trick-or-Treat offerings, Neapolitan Sundaes, Almond Joys and Mounds bars, started taking up valuable real estate in my orange plastic pumpkin during childhood Halloweens,  my Trow Away pile of post-Halloween candy sorting convinced me that coconut was to blame.  Assaulting me with its odd texture that wasn’t quite crunchy and wasn’t quite chewy and definitely wasn’t delicious. Then came chicken Panang and I realized that I love, LOVE coconut, I just hated crappy candy. Now, I stockpile coconut milk, full fat, of course.

Then there are smoked things. I went through a phase of not liking anything smoked, mostly because of a run in with meat that had recently vacated a 1940’s gym locker that had been transformed into a meat smoked. But still smelled like sweat socks. I got over it, with the help of bacon. Now, I love all the smoked things. I even own a stovetop smoker.

So, beer, coconut, salt, smoked things. This is why I give everyone, and most food products, a second chance. Or maybe a third. But don’t push it.

Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies2

Pecan Pie Smoked Porter Brownies

Servings 12 brownies

Ingredients
  

For the Brownies:

  • 18 standard sized 280g graham crackers (two standard sleeves)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ cup 90g plus ½ cup (90g) melted butter, divided
  • 2 cups 420g white sugar
  • 1 ½ cups 135g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp 8g salt
  • ¾ cup 164g smoked porter beer*
  • 1 tsp 6g vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs plus 2 yolks
  • 2/3 cup 95g flour
  • ¼ tsp .5g smoked paprika

For the Pecan Layer:

  • 2 tbs porter
  • 1 cup 234g packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup 171g light corn syrup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbs 12g vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup 55g butter, melted
  • ¼ cup 57g heavy cream
  • 2 cups 227g chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Add the graham crackers and brown sugar to a food processor, process until just crumbs remain. While the mixer is running add ½ cup melted butter, process until well combined.
  • Press into the bottom of a 9X13 pan in an even layer.
  • Add the remaining ½ cup melted butter, sugar, cocoa power, salt, beer and vanilla to bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Add the eggs, stir until well combined.
  • Sprinkle with flour and smoked paprika, stir until just combined.
  • Pour over the crust. Bake for 20 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
  • Reduce oven heat to 325.
  • In a large bowl stir together the 2 tablespoons beer, brown sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter, cream and pecans.
  • Pour over brownie layer, sprinkle with sea salt.
  • Bake at 325 for 35 minutes or until the center is a little wobbly, but not sloshy.
  • Allow to cool to room temp. Cover and chill until set, at least two hours and up to two days.

Notes

*I used Alaskan Brewing Smoked porter. You can also use a coffee stout, or a barrel aged stout.

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Comments


Nathalie November 9, 2015 um 3:33 pm

What a lovely and unusual recipe (for me).
Thank you so much for the recipe and inspiration 🙂

Reply

Camille November 16, 2015 um 6:53 pm

This looks wonderful. It’s been a while since I’ve made a good pie!

Reply

Hutch November 22, 2015 um 8:58 am

These came out great. I substituted Oskar Blues' Death by Coconut porter into the recipe. The brownies are tasty and gooey and keep great in the freezer.

Reply

Jackie November 22, 2015 um 9:43 am

YAY! That’s great to hear 🙂

Reply

David Glover December 2, 2015 um 6:58 am

I made these as an additional dessert for our Thanksgiving feast. Everyone raved about them! Thanks for the recipe.

Reply

Deborah December 12, 2015 um 11:33 pm

Fantastic recipe, thank you for the mouth watering tips.

Reply

Arnaud January 12, 2016 um 6:31 am

What can I substitute the corn syrup with? Hard to find in Europe and I’d like to avoid it all together.

Reply

Ayesha September 13, 2017 um 5:45 am

Mmmmmm…..yum. This looks totally amazing. I’m just starring at the screen looking at how delicious they look.

Reply

Alka Talwar September 23, 2017 um 12:59 am

These turned out extraordinary. I substituted Oskar Blues' Death by Coconut doorman into the formula. The brownies are wonderful and gooey and keep extraordinary in the cooler.

Reply

Jackie September 25, 2017 um 9:59 am

Good to hear! Glad you liked them 🙂

Reply

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