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Turtle brownies stacked on top of each other.
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5 from 14 votes

Easy Turtle Brownies

Rich and delicious, these easy homemade Turtle Brownies are studded with crunchy pecan pieces and have a layer of creamy caramel in the middle.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18 brownies
Calories: 341kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

Brownie batter

  • 1 box German chocolate cake mix
  • ½ cup salted butter, softened (1 stick)
  • cup evaporated milk
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

Caramel filling

  • 60 unwrapped caramels
  • ½ cup evaporated milk
  • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan by lining it with a parchment paper sling with the paper hanging over the edge so that you can lift the brownies out after they have finished cooling for easy cutting. Alternatively, just spray the baking pan with cooking spray.
  • Place the unwrapped caramels in a large glass bowl along with ½ cup of evaporated milk and set over a pan of simmering water. Do not let the water touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir occasionally until the caramels are completely melted and combined with the evaporated milk. It may take a while but you can work on the brownie batter while the caramels are melting. Alternatively, you can microwave caramels by first putting both the caramels and evaporated milk into a large microwave-safe bowl. Then microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring the mixture between heating times.
  • While the caramels are melting, combine the cake mix, softened butter, ⅓ cup of evaporated milk, and pecans in a large bowl and mix together using a large spoon until it all comes together. This brownie batter will be very thick, more like cookie dough.
  • Divide the brownie batter in half and crumble or press half of the mixture into the bottom of the pan, then bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until slightly set.
  • Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle ½ cup of chocolate chips on top in a single layer. Pour the melted caramel topping over the the entire pan of brownies. Next, crumble the rest of the brownie batter on top of the caramel, or use your fingers to make small discs of brownie batter to gently lay on top of the caramel. It's okay if some of the caramel bits peek through.
  • Return the brownies to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, until the top is set. Remove from the oven and allow the brownies to cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate brownies for several hours until they are well-chilled. When ready to serve, dust generously with powdered sugar and cut into small rectangles.

Notes

  • Storage: Put brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or at room temperature for up to 4 days.
  • These can also be made with a devil's food chocolate cake mix or other cake mix instead of German chocolate.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 338mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 204IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2mg