Orange Pecan Brownies

What a great 4th of July! I was home alone and bored, so I whipped up a batch of these wonderful delights! Orange Pecan Brownies, these are not for the faint of heart, or anyone dieting, but every now and again you want a deep, dark, deliciously rich dessert. Well, here it is.

Orange Pecan Brownies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs, beaten
2 tsp pure orange extract
1 tsp grated orange zest
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 13 x 9 pan.

Cream sugar and butter, then add eggs. In a medium bowl combine your dry ingredients and slowly add to the creamed mixture. DO NOT over beat. Fold in the pecans last. Batter will be thick.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Allow to cool and poke holes into the brownies using a fork, chop stick or anything small and round. Then pour the frosting on top.

Frosting

4 oz softened cream cheese
4 TBSP butter, softened
16 oz confectionery sugar
2 TBSP orange zest
Juice from one orange
Add water if too thick
Blend all of the ingredients together and pour over the brownies.

Since the brownies have a cream cheese frosting you will want to keep them cool or eat within a few days. These are thick and rich so you may want to share with your friends or neighbors. Of course if you or a family member have a nut allergy, just leave those out.

Enjoy!

this recipe was featured on FFF on August 3, 2012

 Thank you all!!! This recipe came in 2nd place.