When you’re ready for the 🍫👏🏻 The Best German Chocolate Brownies, this is the recipe to make! Rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with the best German chocolate frosting! Sinfully delicious! EASY, No-Mixer recipe that’s an automatic hit with everyone!
Table of Contents
- Easiest German Chocolate Brownies
- Ingredients in German Chocolate Brownies
- How to Make German Chocolate Brownies
- Storage
- Can I Double This Recipe?
- Can I Use Sweetened Condensed Milk?
- Can the Brownies Be Made Gluten-Free?
- Can I Use Another Type of Nut?
- Tips for Making Fudgy German Brownies
- The Best German Chocolate Brownies Recipe
Easiest German Chocolate Brownies
- Dense, rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with a coconut and pecan frosting that’s sweet and full of texture from shredded coconut and pecans.
- I’m not sure why the ‘frosting’ on German chocolate cakes or brownies is called frosting when it’s more like a topping, but I’m not about todessert question the name of something in a dessert that tastes so good.
- The brownies are an easy, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that’s as fast as using a boxed brownie mix and they turn out fudgy with zero cakiness. It’s a brownie base I’ve fallen in love with because it’s easy and always delivers amazing results.
- I’ve also made Peanut Butter Brownies, Andes Mint Brownies, Turtle Brownies, and Caramel Chocolate Chip Brownies with this base – and many more.
- I also have a recipe for German Chocolate Cookies that’s not to be missed!
Ingredients in German Chocolate Brownies
To make these homemade chocolate brownies with German chocolate cake frosting, you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Dark chocolate – Rather than using semi-sweet chocolate chips, I suggest a bar of chocolate. I use 72% chocolate which is the perfect balance of flavor for me with the chocolate. Not too bitter, but definitely not to sweet.
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Brewed coffee
- Instant espresso granules
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Full-fat evaporated milk
- Light brown sugar
- Sweetened shredded coconut flakes
- Chopped Fisher pecans
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make German Chocolate Brownies
This recipe for German chocolate brownies is so simple! Here’s an overview of how the brownies are made:
- Make the brownies: Melt the butter and chocolate together in a large bowl.
- Then, stir in the eggs, sugar, vanilla, coffee, and espresso granules. Whisk in the flour and salt last.
- Turn the brownie batter into a foil-lined 8×8-inch baking dish and bake until the center has just set and is no longer glossy.
- Make the frosting: To a medium saucepan, add the evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, and salt.
- Heat over medium-low to low heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened. Then pour it over the brownies and cool well.
Coconut Pecan Frosting
The frosting takes less than 10 minutes to make and it’s what German Chocolate brownies are all about! The hardest part is whisking it continuously, but I just considered that a mini arm workout before diving into these decadent brownies that are the best German chocolate brownies I’ve ever had. See the recipe card for complete info.
Storage
Store brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
Can I Double This Recipe?
Yes, double the ingredients list and bake the brownies in a 9×13-inch baking dish. The bake time should be roughly the same.
Can I Use Sweetened Condensed Milk?
No! You MUST use evaporated milk to make the German chocolate cake frosting. Sweetened condensed milk is already sweetened and is supremely sticky, not at all what you want for the frosting.
Can the Brownies Be Made Gluten-Free?
I don’t dabble in gluten-free baking, but I’ve had readers report success using Cup4Cup gluten-free all-purpose flour.
Can I Use Another Type of Nut?
If you’re out of pecans or have an allergy, you can either omit them entirely or substitute them with walnuts. You won’t be making a traditional German frosting if you sub or omit the pecans, but do what you need to.
Tips for Making Fudgy German Brownies
- You must line the baking pan with heavy duty foil or parchment paper, otherwise the brownies will never come out.
- After you’ve melted the butter and chocolate together, let the mixture cool off for a minute or two. If you add the eggs in too soon, you may scramble them.
- Likewise, it’s important that you continually stir the German chocolate cake frosting. Whisk constantly or there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in the bottom of your saucepan.
The Best German Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 6 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Trader Joe’s 72% Pound Plus Bar)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon brewed coffee, (leftover or cold coffee is okay, optional but recommended)
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso granules, optional but recommended
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Topping/Frosting
- ½ cup 4 ounces full-fat evaporated milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened and quartered
- 2 large egg yolks, (discard whites or save for another use)
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut flakes
- heaping 1/2 cup chopped Fisher Pecans, lightly toasted if desired
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil or parchment leaving overhang and spray with cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.
- To a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter, chocolate, and heat on high power to melt, about 2 minutes. Stop to check and stir after 1 minute. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate has melted and mixture can be stirred smooth. Allow mixture to cool momentarily before adding the eggs so they don’t scramble.
- Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla, optional coffee, optional espresso granules (neither make brownies taste like coffee and both enhance and round out the chocolate flavor), and whisk vigorously to combine.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until smooth and combined without overmixing.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula as necessary.
- Bake for about 20 to 22 minutes, or until center has just set and is no longer glossy. A toothpick should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.
- Allow brownies to cool in pan on top of a wire rack while you make the topping.
Topping/Frosting
- To a medium saucepan, add the evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, salt, and heat over medium-low to low heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until mixture has thickened. Whisk constantly or there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in the bottom of your saucepan. The mixture should be boiling gently while whisking.
- Remove pan from the heat, add the vanilla, and whisk to combine using caution because the mixture could bubble up.
- Add the coconut, pecans, and stir to combine. Allow topping to cool in pan for about 5 minutes.
- Turn topping out over brownies, using a spatula to spread it as necessary.
- Allow brownies to cool uncovered for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. I prefer to cover the brownies with foil and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight because they’re much easier to slice when chilled and I prefer the taste when chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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