A method of furnace-less brazing of a substrate is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a braze region thereon; disposing braze precursor material containing a nickel powder, an aluminum powder, and a platinum group metal powder on the braze region; and initiating an exothermic reaction of the braze precursor material such that the exothermic reaction produces a braze material that reaches a braze temperature above the solidus temperature of the braze material. A braze precursor material is also provided.