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Turtle Brownies are rich, fudgy brownies with gooey caramel in the middle and drizzled on top, along with crunchy chopped pecans. This recipe might look complicated but is actually really easy and they’re inspired by candy Turtles, but they’re brownies and so good.
My mom loves Turtle Candies (those caramel pecan clusters covered in chocolate) and these are brownies inspired by those delicious treats. I’ve adapted my rich and fudgy brownie recipe to have a gooey caramel center and caramel pecan topping.
I have a secret to making sure caramel doesn’t melt into the brownie batter and it doesn’t involve partially baking the bottom layer: my caramel recipe includes flour. It’s my tip to ensure a thick caramel layer INSIDE the brownies!
Ingredients in Turtle Brownies
- Stirring hot melted unsweetened baking chocolate with granulated sugar for at least 30 seconds helps the sugar melt, creating those crackly tops you expect on a brownie.
- You can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-process cocoa powder. This provides a delicious cocoa backbone to balance the sweet caramel.
- The unsalted butter melts with the chocolate to make these brownies super rich and fudgy.
- Large eggs are another reason these brownies are super fudgy – the fat from the yolk and the structure from the egg whites makes them perfect.
- Toast your pecans for even more flavor.
- The caramel is made from packaged soft caramels melted with heavy cream. The heavy cream is important for the thickness of the caramel – using a lower fat milk will cause your caramel to be thinner and possibly melt into the brownies.
Dorothy’s Expert Brownie Tips
- A major pain point for caramel stuffed brownies is that the caramel can melt into the brownie batter leaving a mixed mess instead of pretty layers. To combat this, add 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour to the caramel before adding it to the brownie layer. The flour thickens the caramel enough that it will stay put, even after baking.
- It’s a little harder to decide when these are done baking, but if you insert a toothpick an inch or two from the edge of the pan it will come out with a few crumbs.
- Once you top them with the caramel and pecans, let them set before slicing. Always slice brownies with a plastic knife to avoid the fudgy centers sticking.
Turtle Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
Caramel:
- 1 (10-11 ounce) bag caramels, , unwrapped
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon (31g) all-purpose flour
Brownies:
- 4 ounces (113g) unsweetened baking chocolate
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter
- 1 ¼ cups (250g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (124g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (117g) chopped pecans, divided, (see note)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place caramels and whipping cream in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir often, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Pour half into a bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside. Set aside remaining caramel for topping the brownies.
- Place baking chocolate and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, stir. Continue heating in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth.
- Add sugar and stir for at least 30 seconds to incorporate.
- Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and cocoa powder and stir to combine. Stir in flour. Stir in ½ cup (56g) chopped pecans (see note).
- Spread half the brownie batter in prepared pan. Drizzle caramel over the top, creating a layer 1-inch from each side of the pan.
- Pour the remaining batter on top the caramel and carefully spread to the edges.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs 2-inches from the edge of the pan. Cool completely before topping.
- If reserved caramel has hardened, microwave for up to 30 seconds, stir. Drizzle over brownies and sprinkle with remaining nuts.
- Slice into bars and serve.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- You can omit the pecans from inside the brownies if you prefer. If so, use just 1/2 cup on top.
- Dutch process cocoa may be used in place of unsweetened cocoa powder.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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How to make turtle brownies
- Once the caramel is melted with the heavy cream, it will be smooth. Be sure to stir often so it does not burn.
- Be sure to stir until the sugar starts to dissolve so the tops will be flaky and crackly.
- The final brownie batter is nice and thick.
- When adding the caramel layer on top the chocolate, try to avoid about 1/2-inch border so it doesn’t bubble up in the oven.
- Carefully spread the rest of the brownie batter on top without swirling so the caramel stays in the center.
- You can top the brownies once cool.
FAQs
You can switch out the nuts if you would like.
I don’t recommend using chocolate chips as they have added sugar and your brownies will be too sweet.
