Topped with caramel, pecans, and chocolate, these turtle brownies are oh so decadent! My model makes use of a simple selfmade caramel for the most effective outcomes and features a how-to video tutorial.
The Most Indulgent Brownies
My turtle brownies have all of the irresistible parts of turtle sweet: gooey caramel, wealthy chocolate, and crunchy pecans. The caramel in my model is selfmade (in fact) and coated in loads of chopped pecans (toast yours for additional taste!). A drizzle of chocolate on high is each for appears to be like and style. It’s such a decadent strategy to make a turtle dessert!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fastidiously crafted to be decadent, however not too wealthy. I deliberately made the brownie layer completely different from my typical favourite brownies from scratch as a result of I needed the entire thing to be balanced.
- Makes use of an actual selfmade caramel sauce for the most effective taste and texture. Don’t be intimidated by this, I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps intimately.
- Nonetheless a handheld deal with regardless of it’s decadence! These turtle brownies are admittedly just a little messy to eat, because the caramel will begin to spill off just a bit because it sits. However there’s no fork wanted (until you wish to use one, which is completely wonderful).
What You Want
There are two foremost parts to those turtle brownies: the brownie layer itself and the toppings (which actually consists of three separate elements: caramel, chocolate, and nuts).
- Corn syrup. That is mandatory for our caramel sauce, it prevents gritty sugar crystals from forming in caramel sweet. I typically get pushback after I use corn syrup as a result of individuals assume it’s the identical factor as excessive fructose corn syrup, so right here’s a mild reminder and simple learn explaining that corn syrup and excessive fructose corn syrup usually are not the identical. In case you are not situated within the US and might’t discover corn syrup, glucose syrup ought to work simply wonderful right here as an alternative.
- Baking powder. I don’t use baking powder in lots of my brownie recipes, however these turtle brownies profit from just a little elevate from a leavening agent.
- Eggs. Room temperature eggs work finest, so attempt to set yours out forward of time. Often I’d have you ever combine these very well with the sugar to create crackly brownie tops, however don’t fear about that right here since we’re overlaying our brownies.
- Chocolate chips. I usually use semisweet chips in my brownie recipes, however I’m utilizing use milk chocolate chips in these turtle brownies, since milk chocolate is mostly utilized in basic turtle candies.
- Pecans. Use chopped pecans so that they’re straightforward to chew into. For those who actually wish to amp up the flavour, take into account toasting your pecans earlier than including them on high!
SAM’S TIP: If you’d like a turtle dessert that doesn’t contain making selfmade caramel, attempt my turtle cookies or caramelitas!
Bear in mind, that is simply an summary of the components I used and why. For the total recipe please scroll all the way down to the underside of the put up!
Easy methods to Make Turtle Brownies
Make the Caramel Topping
- Prepare dinner the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt over medium low warmth till the sugar dissolves. Hold the warmth low and don’t crank it as much as make this course of go sooner–caramel requires persistence! For those who see sugar crystals sticking to the perimeters of the pan, you possibly can brush them down with a moist pastry brush.
- Improve the warmth to simply under medium and prepare dinner till the caramel reaches 340-345F (171-173C). Instantly take away your saucepan from the warmth.
- CAREFULLY and progressively stir within the cream. Do that slowly, as your caramel will begin to bubble vigorously when the cream is added!
- Stir within the butter one piece at a time. Let the caramel cool in its pan, or pour it right into a separate (heatproof) dish to hurry up the cooling course of.
Make the Brownies
- Whisk the dry components and sugar collectively in a big bowl.
- Add the moist components and stir till every little thing is mixed, then fold in your chocolate chips.
- Unfold the batter into your pan and bake till a toothpick comes out principally clear or with a number of fudgy crumbs.
- Let the brownies cool for a bit earlier than including your toppings.
Assemble
- Pour your (cooled) caramel over the brownies (it’s okay in the event that they brownies are nonetheless just a little heat while you do that). Use an offset spatula or knife to unfold the caramel evenly overtop.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans over the caramel.
- Soften collectively chocolate and cream (we’re making a easy ganache) then pour this over the nuts. Prime every little thing off with a sprinkle of sea salt on high.
- Reduce after the chocolate and caramel have had time to solidify, and revel in!
SAM’S TIP: Turtle brownies will be fairly messy, so I like to recommend slicing them as it is advisable as an alternative of slicing all of them without delay. For those who reduce all of the squares and permit them to sit down the caramel will begin to slowly pool over the sides. Protecting them of their baking pan helps comprise every little thing.
Continuously Requested Questions
I actually suggest making the caramel from scratch. You should use a store-bought one however 1) it simply truthfully doesn’t style nearly as good and a couple of) it appears to be thinner than my caramel sauce, making for a lot messier turtle brownies (and these are already just a little messy!).
For those who actually don’t wish to whip out the sweet thermometer to make the caramel as written, you would at all times make the caramel layer from my caramelitas as an alternative and use that.
By design, the caramel topping received’t be as stable and tidy because the caramel layer in my millionaire’s shortbread, nevertheless it needs to be thick sufficient that it’s not waterfalling off your brownies. If yours is excessively runny, it’s both too heat nonetheless, or it could have wanted to prepare dinner longer. Be sure you’re utilizing an correct sweet thermometer (that is the one I exploit and like, affiliate), that approach precisely when your caramel has reached the suitable temperature and consistency!
I discover that box-mix brownies aren’t fairly as sturdy or thick as those I choose to make use of for this recipe, however they need to nonetheless work. They simply is likely to be a bit messier to eat. Comply with the directions on the bundle for making ready.
These turtle brownies would make an superb a brownie sundae with some vanilla ice cream 🤤
Take pleasure in!
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Turtle Brownies
Servings: 12 brownies
Energy: 437kcal
Components
For the caramel (see observe)
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Directions
To make the caramel:
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Mix sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan and stir regularly over medium-low warmth till sugar is dissolved. For those who discover any sugar adhering to the perimeters of the pan, frivolously dip a pastry brush in water and use it to brush away the sugar.
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, ¼ cup (60 ml) water, 2 Tablespoons mild corn syrup, ¼ teaspoon desk salt
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Flip warmth to only a notch under medium and proceed to prepare dinner with out stirring till combination turns caramel in colour and reaches a temperature of 340-345F (171-173C).
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Take away from warmth and very fastidiously and slowly drizzle in cream. Combination will bubble aggressively, so use warning.
¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream
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Add butter, 1 piece at a time, till combination is clean.
3 Tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter
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Stir in vanilla extract and permit caramel to chill utterly earlier than utilizing (you possibly can pace this up by putting it into it within the fridge).
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Make the brownies
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Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and frivolously grease a 9×9” (23x23cm) sq. baking pan, or line with parchment paper. Put aside.
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In a big mixing bowl, whisk collectively sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar, ⅔ cup (83 g) all-purpose flour, ½ cup (50 g) pure unsweetened cocoa powder, ⅛ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon desk salt
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Add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla and stir collectively very properly till combination is totally mixed.
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, 2 massive eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Stir in chocolate chips.
½ cup (85 g) milk chocolate chips
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Unfold evenly into ready baking pan and bake in preheated 350F (175C) oven for 23-25 minutes. When completed baking a toothpick inserted into the middle ought to come out clear or principally clear with just some moist crumbs.
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Enable brownies to chill for 20 minutes (they don’t have to be absolutely cooled) earlier than including toppings.
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Unfold caramel sauce evenly excessive of the cooled brownies, overlaying all the floor. Sprinkle chopped pecans over high of caramel.
Caramel sauce, ¾ cup pecans
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In a small microwave protected bowl, microwave chocolate chips and heavy cream on excessive for 25 seconds. Whisk collectively till clean. Drizzle over high of brownies.
½ cup (85 g) milk chocolate chips, 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
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Sprinkle with sea salt, reduce and revel in!
Sea salt
Notes
Storing
Retailer the brownies within the pan you’ve baked them in to stop an excessive amount of caramel spilling off of them. I retailer at room temperature (tightly coated) for as much as 2 days or within the fridge (tightly coated) for as much as 5 days. If stored at room temperature, the caramel will slowly spill over the sides of the brownies, that is wonderful and regular.
Diet
Serving: 1brownie | Energy: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fats: 23g | Saturated Fats: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.5g | Ldl cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 177mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 50g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary info relies on third-party calculations and needs to be thought of an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will differ based mostly upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.
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