Cranberry Pecan Brownies are exactly what they sound like they’d be – brownies that are studded with cranberries and pecans – but the flavor combination is so much more amazing than you’d expect. The burst of tart cranberry is the perfect balance to a rich and fudgy chocolate and the nutty crunch of pecans makes a most welcome third wheel. With a short ingredient list and an easy preparation (you can stir everything together in the pan you melt the chocolate in), they’re a brownie you can make any time the mood strikes, but they’re the perfect bright spot once the weather takes a turn for the chilly.

I am partial to cocoa powder brownies because I usually don’t want to deal with a double boiler or melting chocolate at all, but these brownies might have changed my mind. Here, you’re just melting some chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan, and once it’s smooth, you can go ahead and stir in all the other ingredients without even transferring it to a bowl.

To the melted chocolate, you’re stirring in brown sugar and vanilla, and then eggs, flour, and salt once things have cooled a bit. Fresh cranberries and pecans are the final addition, and then the batter is ready to bake.

You get crackly tops and a rich, fudgy bite like with any other good brownie, but you also get bright and tart cranberries that have burst in the heat of the oven and that buttery crunch of pecan. You might have guessed that these are the perfect holiday brownie (for Thanksgiving or Christmas) but they’re easy enough that they can see you through any average fall or winter day.