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Home » Recipes » Bars

Vanilla Brownies Recipe

Published: Nov 29, 2021 Last Updated: Oct 19, 2022 by Marye 1261 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Chewy vanilla brownies with a creamy vanilla frosting have all the texture of a fudgy chocolate brownie but with big vanilla flavor.
Total time 40 minutes
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
Vanilla brownies with text overlay for Pinterest.

Chewy and sweet, there's nothing "plain vanilla" about these easy bar cookies. They're so cute for the holiday season!

Overhead view of brownies cut and decorated to look like Christmas trees.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥄 Equipment
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • Vanilla Brownies
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • All the chewy goodness of your favorite chocolate brownie recipe but with rich vanilla flavor.
  • Easy bar cookie.
  • Festive Christmas tree brownies are so pretty when decorated for the holidays.

This vanilla brownies recipe is for all of you vanilla lovers out there! So much vanilla flavor in a chewy "brownie"!

They freeze well unfrosted, too!

🧾 Ingredients

Technically this is a white chocolate brownie since the base is white chocolate but since the flavor is pure, intense vanilla we're calling them vanilla brownies!

Ingredients for this recipe.

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • white chocolate chips
  • all-purpose flour
  • eggs
  • butter
  • pecans
  • white sugar
  • vanilla
  • cream
  • powdered sugar
  • salt

🔪 Instructions

Easy cookie bars are delicious anytime but especially pretty decorated for Christmas! The full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step by step images for mixing the brownie batter.
  1. Melt butter and white chocolate chips together as directed in recipe below.
  2. Stir until smooth.
  3. Add the pecans and flour mixture to the white chocolate mixture.
  4. Pour into prepared pan and bake. They're done when a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean with maybe a few moist crumbs sticking to it.
Step by step images for cutting the brownies.

Perfect anytime but they're especially pretty cut, covered with vanilla frosting, and decorated to look like Christmas trees.

  1. Make the frosting in a mixing bowl and spread on the cooled brownies.
  2. Cut horizontally in 3 parts.
  3. Cut triangles to resemble Christmas trees.
  4. Decorate.

🥄 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • 13x9-inch pan
  • knife

🥫 Storage

Vanilla brownies can be covered with plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and stored at room temperature for 4 days or so. After that they lose their chewy texture.

If you are placing them in a container put parchment paper or waxed paper between the layers.

They also freeze well unfrosted. Place in a freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

If you put them in a container in layers please put parchment paper between the layers.

Side view of brownie showing texture.

📖 Variations

There are plenty of ways to change these up.

  • Use walnuts or macadamia nuts instead of pecans.
  • Add mini chocolate chips.
  • Cut in star shapes or any holiday shape you prefer - or even just squares! They'e especially pretty cut into hearts for Valentine's Day
  • Add chopped, candied cherries or candied orange peel.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon almond extract and use chopped almonds instead of pecans for an almond vanilla brownie recipe.

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: White vanilla baking chips burn easily. Be sure to melt them over low heat and stir often. You can also melt them at 50% power in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.

  • White chocolate chips or vanilla baking chips as they are sometimes called, are not the same as the candy coating (candy melts). Be sure to use white chocolate.
  • Make sure the dry ingredients are well mixed before adding them.
  • For chewy brownies remove the pan from the oven when the brownies register 165° to 185° with an instant read thermometer.
  • For cakey brownies the temperature should be between 190° and 210°.
  • If the white chocolate clumps up and turns hard while you are melting it you'll have to start over with new chocolate. Be careful that the pan or bowl is completely dry and everything is done on a low temperature.
  • Toasting the pecans will give them more buttery flavor.
  • If you're making a cookie platter use the idea behind these Halloween Rice Krispie Treats but decorate them for the holidays.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Are these vanilla brownies like vanilla blondies?

Not really. They have a flavor that is distinct and different from blondies.

I am allergic to nuts, can I omit the pecans?

Sure! These are delicious without the nuts and the texture is even more chewy and decadent.

Closeup of a decorated brownie.

📚 Related recipes

Who doesn't love a delicious bar cookie?

This white Texas sheet cake is sort of a cross between a cake and bar cookie.

  • Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bar
  • Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
  • Chewy Brownie Recipe
  • Best Ever Oh Henry Bars Recipe

🍽️ Serve with...

I love these pretty vanilla brownies on a cookie tray during the holidays. Arrange them along with -

  • Santa's Whiskers Cookies
  • Chocolate covered cherry cookies
  • m&m's Cookies
  • Sugar Cookies
  • Rolo Cookies

📞 The last word

This is such an easy recipe but the results are nothing short of spectacular.

Cut them as cute Christmas tree brownies during the holidays, hearts for Valentine's Day... there are so many ways to serve these!

If you're looking for chocolate then these are the best brownies ever.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Close up of decorated brownies.
4.50 from 4 votes

Vanilla Brownies

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Chewy vanilla brownies with a creamy vanilla frosting have all the texture of a fudgy chocolate brownie but with big vanilla flavor.
Course Bar cookies
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings:24
Calories:199
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 13x9-inch pan
  • insta-read thermometer

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 ½ cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs

Glaze

  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream, may need a touch more

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease and flour 13x9-inch pan or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside
  • Heat butter and white chocolate chips in a large pot over low heat, just until melted. You can also melt it in a large bowl in the microwave. Either way stir it often - mixture may appear curdled when it's done.
  • Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Stir in remaining brownie ingredients until well blended.
  • Pour batter in pan and use an offset spatula or knife to spread evenly.
  • Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven - until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or the brownies register between 165° and 210° on an instant read thermometer. The lower temperature will result in very chewy brownies and the higher temperature in a more cakey brownie.
  • Cool completely.

Frosting

  • Mix all glaze ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth and spreadable.
  • Spread glaze over brownies with a knife or a small offset spatula.

Christmas Trees

  • Cut the vanilla brownies horizontally in 3 parts.
  • Cut slanted lines to create triangle "Christmas trees". See image in post above.
  • Decorate with sprinkles as desired.

Notes

Expert Tip: White vanilla baking chips burn easily. Be sure to melt them over low heat and stir often. You can also melt them at 50% power in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.
  • White chocolate chips or vanilla baking chips as they are sometimes called, are not the same as the candy coating (candy melts). Be sure to use white chocolate.
  • For chewy brownies remove the pan from the oven when the brownies register 165° to 185° with an instant read thermometer.
  • For cakey brownies the temperature should be between 190° and 210°.
  • If the white chocolate clumps up and turns hard while you are melting it you'll have to start over with new chocolate. Be careful that the pan or bowl is completely dry and everything is done on a low temperature.
  • Toasting the pecans will give them more buttery flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 161IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorraine

      December 03, 2021 at 10:05 am

      I tried your recipe for Vanilla Brownies and followed your recipe
      They were glued to my jelly roll pan, and I was so disappointed.
      Could you tell me what might have gone wrong?

      Reply
      • Marye

        December 03, 2021 at 10:58 am

        Did you grease and flour the pan as instructed? It sounds like you forgot or didn't get enough on there?

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