Best Turtle Brownies

The Best Turtle Brownies are the ultimate homemade fudgy brownies loaded with rich chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy pecans. These easy, from-scratch Turtle chocolate brownies have a decadent caramel pecan filling for an irresistible chocolate dessert.

These Turtle Brownies are thick, fudgy homemade chocolate brownies layered with gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and even more dark chocolate for the ultimate caramel pecan dessert. These easy Turtle chocolate brownies are made completely from scratch with no brownie mix or box mix and are perfect for holidays, parties, bake sales, or whenever you’re craving a decadent chocolate caramel treat.

These Turtle Brownies are what chocolate dreams are made of! They’re thick, fudgy, chewy, gooey, and loaded with layers of dark chocolate, caramel, and pecans. If you’re looking for light, dry, cake-like brownies, these are NOT them. These are big, chunky, bakery-style homemade brownies with a rich chocolate base and a gooey caramel pecan filling hidden right in the middle. And there’s no brownie mix needed!

Although there are plenty of shortcuts for making Turtle Brownies with a box mix, this version is completely from scratch. The homemade brownie batter starts with melted dark chocolate and butter, with just a little instant coffee to deepen that chocolate flavor. Then there’s a layer of pecans, homemade-style melted caramel, and MORE dark chocolate chips tucked between two layers of brownie batter.

Yep, there’s a LOT going on in these brownies. They’re a fun homemade alternative when you’re craving packaged chocolate treats such as Little Debbie brownies or cookies, but want something extra rich and decadent straight from your own kitchen.

The combination of chocolate, caramel, and nuts is one of my favorites, and these brownies have plenty of all three. They’re especially good chilled when the chocolate and caramel firm up and the brownies become extra fudgy.

If you’re a chocoholic like me, you may have just found your new favorite brownie recipe.

 What I Love About This Recipe

• You can serve them LOTS of ways. Eat them straight from the pan, chill them for extra fudgy brownies, or warm them slightly and add vanilla ice cream. They’re rich enough for a special occasion but still fun enough for a casual dessert.
• These are serious chocolate brownies. Dark chocolate chips are melted right into the homemade brownie batter, then another full bag of chocolate chips goes into the filling. A little instant coffee helps deepen the chocolate flavor without turning these into coffee brownies. If you love rich chocolate and fudge-like desserts, these are for you.
• The caramel pecan center makes them extra special. Instead of simply drizzling caramel over regular brownies, these have a thick layer of caramel, pecans, and chocolate baked right into the middle. Every square has a little something different depending on where you cut it. They’re chunky, gooey, crunchy, fudgy, and chewy all at once.
• They’re completely homemade from scratch. You don’t need a brownie mix or box mix for this recipe. The brownie batter comes together with butter, dark chocolate, eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt. It takes a little more effort than opening a box, but these gourmet Turtle Brownies are worth it.
• They’re perfect for making ahead. In fact, I think these brownies are even easier to cut after they’ve had time to chill. Refrigerating them firms up the gooey caramel and fudgy chocolate layers so you can get cleaner squares. That makes them a great make-ahead dessert for parties, holidays, and entertaining.

What Are Turtle Brownies?

Nope, there aren’t any actual turtles involved! In desserts and candy, turtle generally refers to the classic combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans. Turtle candies traditionally combine pecans with caramel and chocolate, and their shape was said to resemble a turtle.

Turtle brownies take those same classic flavors and turn them into a rich chocolate dessert.

For this homemade Turtle Brownies recipe, you get a thick layer of chocolate brownie, pecans, gooey caramel, dark chocolate chips, and MORE brownie batter.

The result is part chocolate brownie, part caramel pecan candy, and a whole lot of deliciousness.

Equipment You May Need

• 13×9-Inch Baking Pan – A good 13×9-inch baking pan is essential for these thick brownies. I personally think a pan that is not glass or dark metal works best for brownies.
• Parchment Paper – Lining the pan with parchment paper makes it MUCH easier to lift the cooled brownies out of the pan before cutting.
• Double Boiler or Microwave-Safe Bowl – Either works for melting the butter, chocolate chips, and coffee granules until smooth.
• Large Mixing Bowl – You’ll need plenty of room for whisking together the homemade brownie batter.
• Small Mixing Bowl – Handy for combining the flour, baking powder, and salt separately.
• Medium Saucepan – Use a saucepan to melt the caramel squares with the heavy cream and salt. Or you could also use a microwave.
• Whisk and Spoon or Spatula – A whisk works well for the wet ingredients, while a sturdy spoon or spatula helps incorporate the flour and spread the thick brownie batter.
• Sharp Knife – A sharp knife makes cutting these thick, gooey Turtle Brownies much easier, especially after the brownies have chilled.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Turtle Brownies Ingredients

For the Brownies

• Unsalted Butter – Gives these homemade brownies plenty of richness and helps create their dense, fudgy texture.
• Dark Chocolate Chips – Melted into the brownie batter for deep chocolate flavor. Bittersweet or semisweet chocolate can also work, but I wouldn’t recommend milk chocolate because the caramel already adds quite a bit of sweetness.
• Instant Coffee Granules – Optional, but a little coffee helps deepen and enhance the chocolate flavor.
• Eggs – Four large eggs give the brownies structure and help create that rich, chewy texture.
• Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the from-scratch chocolate brownie batter.
• Vanilla Extract – Adds a little extra flavor and complements the chocolate and caramel.
• All-Purpose Flour – Just 3/4 cup goes into this recipe, helping keep the brownies thick and fudgy rather than overly cakey.
• Baking Powder – Gives the brownies just a little lift.
• Salt – Balances all that chocolate and sweetness and helps bring out the other flavors.

For the Caramel Pecan Filling

• Caramel Squares – Melt into a thick, gooey caramel layer. If you can find unwrapped caramels, grab them and save yourself some time!
• Heavy Cream – Melts with the caramel squares to create a smooth, rich caramel filling.
• Salt – A small amount balances the sweetness of the caramel. You could add a little more if you want more of a salted caramel flavor.
• Pecans – Use pecan halves or chopped pecans for the classic Turtle dessert combination and plenty of nutty crunch.
• Dark Chocolate Chips – An entire additional bag goes into the filling for even MORE chocolate.

How to Make Turtle Brownies

Step One: Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. If desired, line the pan with parchment paper so the paper runs along the bottom and up the two longer sides, extending a little above the top of the pan.

Step Two: Melt the Chocolate and Butter
Place the butter, one 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips, and coffee granules in the top of a double boiler over medium heat. Heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until smooth, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. You can also microwave the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.

Step Three: Make the Brownie Batter
Whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until well combined. In a separate small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, then whisk the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and stir in the flour mixture just until combined.

Step Four: Bake the First Brownie Layer
Pour about half of the chocolate brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer covering the bottom. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Step Five: Make the Caramel Filling
Meanwhile, place the unwrapped caramels, heavy cream, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir for about 5 minutes or until melted and smooth, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. You can also microwave the ingredients in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.

Step Six: Layer the Turtle Brownies
Remove the partially baked brownie layer from the oven and don’t worry if it isn’t fully cooked. Sprinkle the pecans over the brownies, drizzle the cooled caramel on top, sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, then spoon the remaining brownie batter over everything and gently spread it to the edges of the pan to cover the filling.

Step Seven: Finish Baking the Brownies
Bake at 350 degrees F for an additional 25 to 30 minutes or until the brownies are almost set in the middle. They may look slightly underdone, which is okay, so be careful not to overbake them and dry them out.

Step Eight: Cool and Cut
Cool the brownies completely. For easier cutting, refrigerate them for several hours or overnight to firm, then lift them from the pan using the parchment paper, remove the paper, and cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator for firmer, fudgier brownies or at room temperature for a few days.

(Full printable recipe card with full details is at bottom of post.)

Serving Suggestions

• Serve Them Chilled: These are one of those brownies I really like straight from the refrigerator. Chilling makes them extra firm and fudgy.
• Serve at Room Temperature: Let them sit out a bit for a softer brownie with a gooier caramel center.
• Make a Brownie Sundae: Slightly warm a Turtle Brownie and top it with vanilla or chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and chopped pecans.
• Add More Caramel: Drizzle a little warm caramel sauce over each brownie for an extra decadent dessert.
• Add a Sweet and Salty Finish: Sprinkle a tiny bit of flaky salt over the top for more of a salted caramel Turtle Brownie.
• Serve with Coffee: These rich chocolate brownies are delicious with hot coffee or homemade espresso.
• Add Them to a Dessert Platter: Cut the brownies into smaller pieces and serve alongside cookies, candies, and other chocolate desserts for parties and holidays.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Unwrap the caramels first. Individually wrapped caramel squares can take a while to unwrap, so get that out of the way before you start making the brownie batter.
• Check the caramel package size. As noted in the recipe, caramel bag sizes may have changed since this recipe was first developed. You need 22 ounces total, so check the weight rather than assuming two bags will always be enough.
• Cool both melted mixtures. Be sure the melted chocolate mixture and caramel mixture have cooled before adding them to the recipe.
• Don’t overmix the flour. Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients just until combined.
• Don’t overbake. The center may look slightly underdone when the brownies come out of the oven. That’s okay because they’ll continue to firm as they cool.
• Stick with darker chocolate. Semisweet or bittersweet chocolate can replace dark chocolate, but milk chocolate may make these already-sweet caramel brownies TOO sweet.
• Use parchment paper. Grease the pan, add a long piece of parchment paper across the bottom and up the two long sides, then lightly grease the parchment. You’ll have convenient “handles” for lifting the brownies out.
• Chill before cutting. For the cleanest squares, refrigerate the brownies for several hours or overnight before cutting.
• Keep them cold for extra fudge-like texture. If you love really dense, fudgy brownies, store these in the refrigerator.

Turtle Brownies FAQ

How to tell when brownies are done?
It’s a little tricky because you can go from underbaked brownies to overbaked brownies quickly. The top should look “set”. It might look slightly jiggly and underdone, but they will firm up as they cool.

How to cut brownies?
If you are particular about getting those perfectly cut brownies, I would be sure to line your pan with parchment paper so you can lift the brownies out of the pan and place on a cutting board. I’d also suggest refrigerating or freezing the brownies before cutting to get nice, smooth, sharp edges.

How should I store the brownies?
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for a softer texture. You can also keep them in the refrigerator if you prefer your Turtle Brownies extra firm and fudgy.

Can I freeze brownies?
YES! These brownies freeze really well. Wrap them well and store them in a freezer-safe container to help protect the chocolate, caramel, and brownie layers.

How long do brownies last?
They should last at least a few days at room temperature, about a week in the refrigerator, or a few months in the freezer when wrapped and stored well.

Substitutions?
Instead of dark chocolate, try bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. Milk chocolate may make these brownies a little too sweet because there’s already a LOT of caramel. You can also substitute walnuts or another favorite nut for the pecans.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
You could experiment with lower-fat margarine and milk instead of the butter and heavy cream, but I can’t guarantee the results. For the rich, gooey texture these brownies are supposed to have, I’d stick with the ingredients in the recipe.

What else can I add to this recipe?
There are LOTS of possibilities! Try toffee chips, extra chopped pecans, or a little extra salt in the caramel for salted caramel brownies. You could also drizzle the finished brownies with chocolate or caramel sauce.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – You’d have to make a lot of substitutes, so it might be difficult.

Vegetarian – The brownies are vegetarian.

Low-Carb – These are definitely high-carb, but to lower the carbs, you could try a sugar substitute and low-sugar chocolate. You could also cut the caramel filling in half.

Gluten-Free – You could try a gluten-free baking flour that has a 1:1 ratio substitute for all-purpose flour.

Other Brownie Recipes You May Enjoy

If these ultimate Turtle Brownies have you craving even MORE chocolate, here are some other Snappy Gourmet recipes you may enjoy:

• Peanut Butter Stuffed Brownies: Chunky, chewy brownies packed with plenty of chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
• Birthday Brownies: A more cake-like brownie that’s especially fun topped with frosting and sprinkles.
• Mint Brownies: Fudgy homemade brownies topped with a mint chip frosting.
• Cannoli Brownies: A fun combination of rich brownies and Italian cannoli-inspired frosting.
• Chocolate Brownie Cake: Part brownie and part chocolate cake for one seriously decadent dessert.

These Turtle chocolate brownies are definitely for serious dessert lovers. Between the fudgy homemade chocolate brownie layers, gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and extra dark chocolate chips, there’s a little bit of everything in every bite.

No brownie mix. No box mix. Just thick, decadent, from-scratch Turtle Brownies loaded with the classic chocolate, caramel, and pecan combination. YUM!

Turtle Brownies Video

Check out this how-to video to see how these brownies come together…

You might also like these Chocolate Turtle Cookies with the same great combination of flavors!

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Best Turtle Brownies

Gourmet fudgy chocolate brownies packed with chocolate, caramel, and pecans!

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Yield 32 brownies

Calories 347kcal

Author Lisa Huff

Ingredients

 

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Brownies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks – half pound)
• 12 ounces dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Filling:

• 22 ounces caramel squares (2 – 11 ounce bags, unwrap caramels)
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups pecans halves or chopped
• 12 ounces dark chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13×9 baking dish. If desired, line the pan with parchment paper so that paper is along bottom and up the two longer sides and goes a little above top of pan sides.
• Place butter, 1 (12 ounce) bag of chocolate chips, and coffee granules in top of double boiler over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, heat mixture until smooth (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and set mixture aside to cool. [OR you can place ingredients in microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.]
• Whisk together eggs, sugar, and vanilla until well combined in a large mixing bowl. In a separate small mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk cooled chocolate mixture into sugar/egg mixture, then stir in flour mixture until just combined.
• Pour about half of chocolate brownie mixture into bottom of prepared 13×9-inch baking dish. Spread batter to cover bottom of pan into an even layer. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place unwrapped caramels, cream, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool. [OR you can place ingredients in microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth.]
• When bottom brownie layer is done, remove from oven. (don’t worry if it’s not fully cooked). Sprinkle pecans on top of brownie layer. Drizzle cooled caramel on top, then sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top. Spoon remaining brownie batter on top and gently spread batter over chocolate chips to edges of pan to cover filling.
• Bake brownies an additional 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees F or until almost set in middle. Brownies may appear slightly underdone, but that’s ok. Be careful to not overbake and dry out brownies.
• Cool completely. For easy cutting, place brownies in fridge for several hours over overnight to firm. Gently lift on parchment paper to remove brownies from pan and remove paper. You may need to run a sharp knife around edge of pan to remove brownies. Cut brownies into squares. For a firmer fudgier brownie, store in fridge. Otherwise, store at room temperature for a few days.

Notes

SNAPPY TIPS:

• Be sure the melted chocolate mixture and caramel are cool before adding to the recipe.
• The caramel bag sizes may have changed since I first wrote this recipe, so you may need more/less than 2 bags (be sure to check the size of the bag when buying).

SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Substitute your favorite nuts for the pecans.
• You can also substitute other types of chocolate for the dark chocolate; however, I suggest sticking with a chocolate that is not too sweet.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keywords: chocolate brownies, homemade fudgy brownies

Did you try this recipe?Tag @SnappyGourmet or #SnappyGourmet!

Nutrition:

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg

(Nutrition data is provided when available for informational purposes only and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. For the most accurate information please calculate based on specific ingredients and brands you use as well as any changes you made to the recipe. I am not a certified nutritionist or registered dietician and any nutritional information provided should only be used as a general guideline and estimate.)

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About Lisa Huff

Lisa Huff is a Cookbook Author, Freelance Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Blogger/Writer, and award-winning home chef. She loves creating unique recipes from healthy to decadent including cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, dessert recipes and more and has appeared on various shows, publications, and websites.