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Rich chocolate brownies with cranberries and pecans are one of my favorite easy-to-make desserts this time of year – it is an unexpected and fun holiday flavor combination.
Served plain or topped with ice cream and hot fudge sauce, I’ve been making cranberry brownies at least a few times every holiday season for years. And without exception, everyone who has tasted them has raved over them.
Cranberry Brownies
The brownie base for this recipe has been my favorite for years. It’s a simple saucepan recipe that comes together in under 10 minutes, making it perfect for snacking any time of day.
The cranberries are a tart counterpart to the rich chocolate fudgy brownies. It’s a fun surprise flavor and they’re always a guaranteed hit on a dessert table. If you haven’t already fallen in love with the pairing of fruit and chocolate, these brownies may convince you to try it soon.
Who doesn’t love a rich, fudge brownie for a sweet snack? The cranberries that have a home in my freezer all year for the Cranberry Christmas Cake have to do double duty for these brownies now too.
Fresh Cranberry Recipes
There’s so much more to fresh cranberries than the cranberry sauce on the table for Thanksgiving dinner. From the crunch of the sugar crust on the bottom to the juicy cranberries to the flaky cake layer on top; Nantucket Christmas Cranberry Pie is cranberry dessert heaven.
“The sweet heat that you can not stop eating” is the best way to describe this sweet and spicy cranberry jalapeno dip. Double it for a crowd so you don’t run out! Tart cranberries and sweet apples are baked inside a brown sugar and oat crisp for a perfect not-to-sweet cranberry apple crisp.
Tangy cranberry pancakes sweetened with maple syrup make getting out of bed on the weekend a little bit easier. These buttermilk pancakes are a must-make for me the first weekend in December.
Cranberry Christmas Cookies are filled with an abundance of fresh tart cranberries balanced by a buttery sweet cookie. Sweet, tart, and full of cranberries, apples, raisins, and spices, cranberry chutney is sure to become a must-have on the holiday table.
Slightly chewy with a sweetly tart combination, cranberry oatmeal bars are full of cranberries and apples topped with brown sugar and oatmeal crumbs. Fresh cranberries and a hint of lemon are combined in this incredibly moist brown sugar streusel Cranberry Coffee Cake.
And last but not least, tart cranberries and spicy peppers mingle in this sweet and spicy Cranberry Pepper Jelly. Everyone goes crazy for this spicy jam at the very first bite! It’s the perfect addition to a Christmas charcuterie board.
Pecan Brownies
Oh, how I love a fudgy rich pan of brownies when they are sprinkled with nuts in every bite. My go-to brownie add-in is a handful of pecans, but I don’t discriminate with the nuts we enjoy in brownies.
Almond Joy Brownies are gooey fudgy brownies filled with plenty of chocolate, almonds, and coconut.
Kitchen Tip: I use this saucepan and this baking pan to make this recipe.
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe
- butter
- semi-sweet chocolate
- light brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- kosher salt
- fresh or frozen cranberries
- pecans
COOK’S NOTE: These brownies will keep nicely in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. Alternatively, they can be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before eating.
Frozen cranberries work well in this recipe. I toss the bag of fresh cranberries directly into the freezer after I buy them. The frozen cranberries can be added to the recipe without thawing.
Fruit and Chocolate
Smooth and creamy chocolate fondue that you can make in just a couple of minutes? What’s not to love?? Served with loads of fruit, cream puffs, graham crackers, and pretzels, this Dessert Fondue Board is a treat for the eyes and for everyone’s taste buds.
Sweet and slightly tart fresh blueberries are lightly covered in dark chocolate to create an irresistible sweet snack that doubles as a quick and easy dessert too. My sister gets the thanks for these chocolate covered blueberries every time I make a batch for the freezer.
If you enjoy chocolate covered strawberries, you really do need to try chocolate coated orange slices. They’re like no other dessert and my whole family loves them!
Your favorite trail mix has been transformed into the ultimate candy bar in this Fruit and Nut Chocolate Bark with swirled layers of white and dark chocolate, studded with dried fruits, and crunchy nuts. Salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and chocolate all come together in this beautiful and easily adaptable holiday treat.
Cranberry Pecan Brownies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cups semi-sweet chocolate
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour*
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup pecans chopped
*Gluten-Free Alternative:
- ⅓ cup brown rice flour
- 3 tablespoons tapioca starch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9×9 pan with butter or line with parchment. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the chocolate chips to the butter and stir until melted. Remove from the heat. Add the sugar and vanilla, and stir until smooth.
- Whisk in the eggs. Add the flour and salt. Stir until well combined. Stir in the cranberries and pecans.
- Pour into a well-greased or parchment lined pan. Bake for 28-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out with moist crumbs.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 10/5/17 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/4/24}
These look amazing! I am on the hunt BAD for fresh cranberries but it’s a few weeks too early. Do you havwe a favorite brand/store where you source your frozen ones? I have to make a recipe with cranberries and am striking out!
I happened to see them in a grocery store yesterday (I’m in NY right now and they were at Wegmans), but I have yet to find any frozen ones to buy year round. I buy at least a dozen bags each year and stack them in the freezer to use later. If you were closer, I’d share!
Thank you and I am going to start hunting for anything I can get my hands on. Getting desperate for a brand shoot!
Pinning these gorgeous brownies, then I’m heading to the kitchen to make them!
Hi! What kind of simi-sweet chocolate chips do you prefer to bake with?
can’t wait to try it 10/4/17
I am not a really fan of pecans, but I love brownies and sure I try your recipe :3
Man, those brownies wouldn’t last 5 seconds in this house. They look amazing! I’ve never added cranberries to brownies before but it sounds delicious! What a perfect fall and winter treat 🙂
I’m going to make these for Christmas! Can’t wait to try it..
The Brownies are wonderful. The tart bite of the cranberry is so delicious with the chocolate and they are very easy to make.
So, excited to try this! I’ve added dry cranberries with pecans before, but of course, fresh will be better!
I was able to purchase fresh cranberries at Costco – 2# sized bag.
These brownies are so festive and delicious! I made them for Christmas and am making them now for a New Year’s Eve party. Thanks for sharing!
So beautiful picture
Is it really 1 tablespoon of vanilla or should it read a teaspoon?
I use one tablespoon, but you are welcome to reduce that. It will work fine either way, a tablespoon just gives it even more flavor.
Oh my god
So beautiful
Incredibly delicious.
I recommend to everyone who wants a fast and easy recipe.
You’re just amazing.
I like your recipe abd I want to make brownies this week but I have a question: do I have to cool the mixture before I add the eggs or is it OK to add the eggs into the hot mixture without any problem?
Thanks
I typically don’t wait to add the eggs, just stir them in quickly and they’ll be fine.
I tried this with frozen cranberries. Was a mess to fold in, as it made the chocolate so stiff. I wouldn’t recommend anyone using frozen. Go ahead and thaw first. My first go with this recipe was fabulous. The second time I thought what the heck, it says frozen would work just as well. Big mistake. I was barely able to get the batter into the baking dish, chocolate everywhere. Just thaw first.
These are a favorite… Every time I make them!