Fruitcake-Inspired Brownies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Christmas

by: JessicaBakes

October20,2011

4.7

3 Ratings

  • Makes a 9 x 13" dish of brownies

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Brownies with all the classic fruitcake goodies...well, okay, not those scarily colored red and green mystery candied fruits, but you get the point. Lots of dried fruit and nuts surrounded by melt-in-your-mouth deep chocolate brownies.

The method used here to make the brownies is a more old-fashioned one where you whip the "wet" ingredients together to incorporate air into the batter. I also add a touch of baking powder due to the weight of the nuts and fruit, but the end result is much better than what I typically find. —JessicaBakes

Test Kitchen Notes

We know what you’re thinking: Fruitcake? Blech! But before you move on, let us reassure you that JessicaBakes has taken the best elements of fruitcake -- okay, not the booze, but lots of different dried and candied fruit and nuts -- and crammed them into a rich, gooey chocolate brownie. It’s an embarrassment of riches. The brownies are intensely chocolatey, and almost mousselike (they call for 5 whole eggs and a mere ¾ cup of flour); the extreme chocolate factor might even be overwhelming without the tartness and crunch of the fruit and nuts, which are an ideal counterpoint. Fruitcake-haters, rejoice! – A&M —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
  • Your Best Holiday Confection Contest Finalist

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cupunsalted butter, plus more for the pan
  • 1 poundbittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 cup
    1 tbsp. AP flour
  • 1/2 teaspoonbaking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoonground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cupdried cherries
  • 1/4 cupcandied orange bits
  • 1/4 cupdates, chopped coarsely
  • 5 large eggs
  • 2 cupslightly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoonsalt
  • 1 teaspoonvanilla extract
  • 1/2 cuproasted unsalted walnuts, chopped coarsely
  • 1/2 cuproasted unsalted hazelnuts, chopped coarsely
  • 1 cuproasted unsalted pecans, chopped coarsely
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9x13" glass baking dish (metal will do in a pinch).
  2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Set aside to cool.
  3. Sift the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder into a small mixing bowl. Don't skip the sifting or you will have to fold the batter more later on to fully incorporate the flour in. Sift sift sift! (If your dried fruit is sticking together, toss it around in the flour mixture to help keep it from clinging together in the batter.)
  4. Using a mixer with the whisk attachment (or, if you like pain and labor, just a whisk) beat the eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla on high speed until the mixture thickens and becomes pale in color and falls from the beater in a wide ribbon that folds back on itself, about 4-5 minutes.
  5. Using a rubber spatula, fold the cooled chocolate into the egg mixture. Add the flour, dried fruit, and nuts EXCEPT the pecans; fold it in quickly but gently with the spatula so that you don't deflate the air you just incorporated into the eggs.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth with the top of the spatula. Sprinkle the pecans over the top. Bake until the top looks slightly cracked and feels soft to the touch, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Tags:

  • Brownie
  • American
  • Pecan
  • Chocolate
  • Nutmeg
  • Christmas
  • Winter
  • Dessert
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Holiday Confection

Popular on Food52

16 Reviews

Ceramic December 23, 2013

Made these over Thanksgiving weekend. They were delicious, but next time I might not bother with the dates/cherries-- the orange flavor overwhelmed them-- in a good way.

LeBec F. November 14, 2011

jessica, i forgot to commend you for using the dk br sugar and no white. also, figs might sub well for dates(less sweet too!)

LeBec F. November 14, 2011

this looks terrific. were you inspired by panforte? When I make it i will sub dried cranberries if i can't find dried sour cherries, to help cut the sweetness. I am tempted to cut the walnuts too, to simplify the nut flavors a bit. And i will add espresso powder and coarse ground black pepper. Have you ever tried alice medrich's brownies? they are the best i have ever had, and she has you chill the batter overnight; says it makes a huge difference. I bet you made this recipe so many times- to perfect it for the contest- that you never want to eat brownies again, but if not, you might want to try the chilling step! thanks so much for this inspiration; can't wait to make it.

Bevi November 8, 2011

So pretty! Congrats!

fiveandspice November 4, 2011

Chocolatey decadence meets fruitcake, what a great idea. I can see myself accidentally eating the whole pan of these and deciding that it was totally worth the stomach ache. Congrats on being a finalist!

Ms. T. November 3, 2011

I never thought fruitcake could make me drool, but this sounds really good. Congrats and good luck :)

JessicaBakes November 3, 2011

Thanks! Best of luck to you too! Rosemary and pine nuts AND caramel? Divine.

sexyLAMBCHOPx November 3, 2011

Congrats!

JessicaBakes November 3, 2011

Thanks everyone! I really hope you all enjoy them!

BlueKaleRoad November 3, 2011

Congratulations on being a finalist! Love all the nuts in these decadent brownies.

aargersi November 3, 2011

Congratulations - extra special tasty brownies!!

Savour November 3, 2011

Oh yum. I'm thinking these would be extra delicious with a chocolate brandy glaze.

drbabs November 3, 2011

Wow, these sound amazing. Congratulations on being a finalist!

gingerroot November 3, 2011

Congrats on being a finalist!

EmilyC November 3, 2011

Congrats on being a finalist! What a unique, clever way to combine two holiday staples!

hardlikearmour November 3, 2011

Congrats! These brownies sound sinfully decadent & perfect for the holidays!

Fruitcake-Inspired Brownies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Fruitcake-Inspired Brownies Recipe on Food52? ›

The brownies are made with unsweetened chocolate, which is also known as baking, plain or bitter chocolate. It is chocolate in its rawest form and this means that unsweetened chocolate is just ground cocoa nibs that have been refined and contain between 50-55% cocoa butter (cacao fat).

What are Katharine Hepburn brownies? ›

The brownies are made with unsweetened chocolate, which is also known as baking, plain or bitter chocolate. It is chocolate in its rawest form and this means that unsweetened chocolate is just ground cocoa nibs that have been refined and contain between 50-55% cocoa butter (cacao fat).

Can I add fruit to my brownie mix? ›

You may not believe it, but adding in small bits of frozen fruits can turn brownies into something amazing. My favorite is to chop up strawberries really small and add them to the brownie batter. You can add blueberries, raspberries, and any other fruit your heart desires.

What can I add to brownies to make them better? ›

Stir in semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, and shards off the block for a chocolate brownie that's even more chocolaty. If you have leftover holiday treats, crumble in candy bars, peppermints, chopped candied ginger, or crushed cookies.

What is a Little Debbie brownie? ›

Chewy brownie topped with fudge icing and colorful candy coated chocolate pieces. single serve, family pack, and big pack. Perfectly portioned snack? Check.

Why are they called blonde brownies? ›

The name 'blondies' comes from their light color, which contrasts with the dark color of traditional brownies.

What are the three types of brownies? ›

Brownie textures fall into three general camps… Cakey, fudgy and chewy. Cakey brownies, like the name implies, are light, moist and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior. Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact.

What keeps brownies moist? ›

Storing Brownies in the Refrigerator

Unlike cookies or cakes that tend to dry out more quickly in the fridge than at room temperature, the fridge helps brownies to stay moist longer.

How do you upgrade brownie mix? ›

How To Make Boxed Brownies Taste Homemade
  1. Add Extra Favor. Another way to make a boxed brownie mix taste homemade is to use an extract, adding a hint of additional flavor to your brownies without undermining the chocolate flavor. ...
  2. Add Strong Coffee. ...
  3. Check Your Pantry. ...
  4. Add a Swirl of Sauce. ...
  5. Add Some Salt.
Oct 21, 2022

What happens if you add an extra egg to brownie mix? ›

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

Is it better to use milk or water in brownie mix? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

How to make a box brownie mix more cake like? ›

Add an extra egg to your brownie batter to make more cake-like brownies. There are directions on the back of the box. You can also make brownies from a cake mix with our Loaded Chocolate Cake Mix Brownies recipe.

Can I use butter instead of oil in brownie mix? ›

You can absolutely substitute butter for the vegetable oil. Use the same quantity specified in the directions (for example, if it calls for 1/3 cup of oil, use 5 1/3 tablespoons of butter). Melt it down, then let it cool a bit. You might not ever go back to oil!

Why are brownie fairies called brownies? ›

They received their name from the fact that they are usually described as brown-skinned and completely covered in hair. In the earliest traditions, brownies are either the same size as humans or sometimes larger, but, in later accounts, they are described as "small, wizened, and shaggy".

What is the movie brownies about? ›

It is about a career woman who falls for an entrepreneur over their mutual love of brownies.

What is in brownies on the moon? ›

Description. The most delicious brownies are combined with premium high-quality chocolate cream and vanilla ice cream to give you an experience that is out of this world!

Why is brownies changing their name? ›

Canada Girl Guides renamed Brownies, new name Embers meant to be more inclusive The new name, Embers, was approved overwhelmingly by members and is meant to be more inclusive. Past and present Girl Guides said the old name caused harm and even prevented or delayed their joining.

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