Did Little Debbie Brownies ever make it into your lunchbox as a child? Do they still grace your lunchbox from time to time as an adult? If so, this is a homemade brownie recipe you won't want to miss out on! As good as those Little Debbies might be, we can personally guarantee, these Walnut Brownies are better!
Dense and fudgy Walnut Brownies are made extra decadent thanks to a quick drizzle of melted chocolate wafers and crunchy bits of chopped walnuts. Perfect for snacking, potluck parties, and gift-giving!
Brownies are an easy dessert to make from scratch, and now you can make them all the more special with a simple chocolate topping. If you'll recall the Little Debbie Brownie packaging, you might remember that the chocolate topping isn't necessarily mess-free.
In order to keep things neat for packaging and transporting purposes, melted chocolate wafers are the perfect brownie topper! It stays on top of the brownie and only on top of the brownie once hardened, making these Walnut Brownies the perfect bite-sized treat for snacking, taking to potlucks, and especially for gift giving!
WALNUT BROWNIES INGREDIENT LIST
- Butter - Be sure you use only unsalted butter for this recipe. When you're making baked goods from scratch, it's important to stick to the list. If you were to use salted butter, you're Walnut Brownies would definitely be on the salty side.
- Flour - The same goes for flour. This recipe calls for all-purpose flour, so be sure to use only that!
- Cocoa Powder -- Unsweetened cocoa powder is what makes these Walnut Brownies over the top chocolatey. Our go-to cocoa powder is Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa.
- Baking Powder -- Baking powder and baking soda are not the same ingredient. Be sure you use baking powder!
- Sea Salt -- Believe it or not, not all salts were created equal, and some are sharper in flavor than others. Fine sea salt is just right for baked goods.
- Eggs -- These brownies are extra rich and fudgy, and for this, we have an extra egg yolk to thank.
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla -- If you can swing it cost-wise, you can't beat pure vanilla extract for an extra boost in flavor.
- Chocolate Melting Wafers -- Chocolate melting wafers will be used for the chocolate topping on your Walnut Brownies. There is only one brand we recommend when it comes to working with chocolate melting wafers and that is Ghirardelli.
- Walnuts -- The walnuts will be speckled throughout your brownies and on top. You can buy whole or chopped walnuts. As long as they end up as chopped, tiny bits, that's all that matters.
HOW TO MAKE WALNUT BROWNIES {JUST LIKE LITTLE DEBBIE BROWNIES}
Before you begin with your Walnut Brownie batter, line your baking dish with either parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. This small step ensures you'll be able to remove your brownies from the pan with ease.
- Whisk dry ingredients.
- Mix the wet ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Add chopped walnuts and stir once more.
- Bake the brownies, set aside to cool completely, then remove from the pan.
- Melt chocolate wafers and pour over brownies. Top with remaining chopped walnuts and allow chocolate to set completely.
- Cut your Walnut Brownies into squares, serve and enjoy!
HOW TO CUT BROWNIES INTO SQUARES
Once the topping has set, using a large, sharp knife, cut the block of brownies in half lengthwise, then cut each half in half again lengthwise. You should have four equal strips. Now, you'll cut each strip in half crosswise, and repeat once more, so that you have sixteen squares total.
5 MORE BROWNIE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
- Chocolate Chip Brownies are soft, chewy, and loaded with big chocolate flavor, and guaranteed to be the best you’ve ever had! They’re quick and easy to make and require only simple baking ingredients.
- Homemade Brownies with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting are decked out with a plethora of fresh berries like raspberries, blackberries, and halved strawberries. They’re perfect for impressing guests at brunches or baby/bridal showers and practically made for giving on Valentine’s day.
- Red Velvet Brownies are the perfect holiday dessert. Whether you intend to bake up these beauties for a Christmas party, a Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart, or for your very own dining pleasure, these Red Velvet Brownies made from scratch, equipped with a simple Cream Cheese Frosting never disappoint.
- Peppermint Bark Brownies are the perfect choice when Christmastime rolls around with a sweet coating of peppermint bark across the top
- Halloween Brownies feed a crowd and make decorating fun! Featuring three spooky, yet adorable, ways to dress up your brownies for Halloween!
Walnut Brownies | Little Debbie Brownies (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- â…“ cup + 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 (10 ounce) package Ghirardelli Chocolate Dark Melting Wafers
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts separated
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Have ready a greased, 8"x8" square baking dish lined with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang to easily lift the brownies out once baked.
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe pitcher or bowl, and set aside to cool.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk and set aside.
- Add the eggs and the yolk to a large mixing bowl, and whisk. Add the sugar and vanilla, and a handheld mixer on medium speed (or a sturdy wooden spoon) to mix until well combined. Slowly stream in the melted butter, mixing all the while.
- Add the dry ingredients and with the mixer on low, mix until just combined. Add ½ cup of the chopped walnuts, and mix once more.
- Add the batter to baking dish, spread to the edges and smooth over the top. Bake for 26-28 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool completely. Once the brownies have cooled, lift them out of the baking dish and transfer to a work surface.
- Melt the chocolate wafers according to package directions, and pour melted chocolate over the top of the brownies. Smooth over the top using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts and set aside until completely set.
- Cut the brownies into squares, serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Paula Montenegro says
I believe you can never have too many brownie recipes, and these sound amazing! Love that you use sea salt (and Ghirardelli chocolate too, one of my favorites).
Emily says
Love these brownies. I'm on Team Fudgy Brownie too, so these brownies were perfect. Great recipe!
Courtney says
There is nothing better than a fudgy homemade brownie, especially when it's been made with great chocolate like Ghirardelli. Great recipe!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Courtney!
Toni says
This was a huge hit! My kids can't stop eating these!
Julie Menghini says
Perfect little bite sized fudgy goodness. I also love using Ghiradelli chocolate.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Julie!