This Fudgy Turtle Brownies Recipe is a fudgy and decadent recipe, which is made with homemade caramel and toasted pecans. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, plus cooling time.
Fudgy Turtle Brownies Recipe Ingredients
For the Cream Caramel:
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ⅓ cup heavy cream, room temperature
For the Brownies:
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for dish
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Kosher salt
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (1 ½ cups), plus 2 ounces melted
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups pecan halves (8 ounces)
- Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon, for sprinkling
How To Make Fudgy Turtle Brownies
- Make the Caramel Sauce: In a saucepan, combine the sugar and corn syrup. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Uncover and continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the mixture turns a medium amber color, about 3 to 4 minutes more. Carefully add the cream in a slow, steady stream (the mixture will bubble up). Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Let it cool for about 10 minutes until it’s thick but still pourable.
- Prep Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides. Butter the parchment.
- Mix the Brownie Batter: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt. In a large heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the 8 ounces of chopped chocolate, the stick of butter, and the oil. Remove from the heat and whisk in both sugars until smooth. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla, until the batter is glossy. Fold in the flour mixture until just combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Arrange the pecan halves on top in a single layer. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
- Cool and Top: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cool, drizzle the prepared caramel over the brownies and let it set for about 30 minutes. Finally, drizzle with the 2 ounces of melted chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let the chocolate set before cutting into squares.
Recipe Tips
- How to make caramel without it crystallizing? The key is to avoid stirring once the sugar has dissolved. Instead, gently swirl the pan. If you see sugar crystals forming on the sides of the pan, you can use a wet pastry brush to brush them down.
- How do you know when fudgy brownies are done? Do not wait for a clean toothpick! The perfect fudgy brownie is slightly underbaked when it comes out of the oven. A toothpick inserted in the center should have moist, sticky crumbs attached.
- Why cool brownies completely before topping? This is a crucial step. The brownies need to be fully cooled and set before you add the caramel and chocolate drizzles, otherwise, the toppings will melt into the brownies instead of sitting on top.
- Can I use store-bought caramel? Yes, for a great shortcut, you can use a good quality, thick store-bought caramel sauce. You may need to warm it slightly to make it pourable.
What To Serve With Turtle Brownies
These decadent brownies are a complete dessert on their own, but they are even more indulgent with:
- A scoop of vanilla bean or butter pecan ice cream
- A dollop of fresh whipped cream
- A cup of strong black coffee to cut the sweetness
How To Store Turtle Brownies
- Refrigerate: Due to the caramel topping, it’s best to store these brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 5 days.
- Serving: They are delicious served cold from the fridge, or you can let them come to room temperature for a softer texture.
Fudgy Turtle Brownies Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 350-400 kcal
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 4g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
What are “turtle” brownies?
“Turtle” is a classic candy combination of pecans, caramel, and chocolate. These brownies take those same delicious flavors and put them in brownie form.
Can I use a different nut?
Yes. While pecans are traditional for the “turtle” flavor, toasted walnuts would be a delicious substitute.
Why did my caramel get hard instead of saucy?
This usually means the sugar was cooked for too long or at too high a temperature before the cream was added. Watch for a medium amber color, like the color of a copper penny, and then immediately add the cream.
Try More Recipes:
- Cappuccino Brownies Recipe
- Fudgy Double-Chocolate Brownies Recipe
- Dark-Chocolate Spelt Brownies Recipe
Fudgy Turtle Brownies Recipe
Description
A rich, fudgy brownie base is topped with a layer of crunchy pecans, a drizzle of homemade caramel, and a final flourish of melted chocolate and flaky sea salt.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make the caramel by cooking sugar and corn syrup to an amber color, then stirring in the cream. Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line and butter a 9×13-inch pan.
- Make the brownie batter by melting the 8 oz of chocolate with butter and oil. Whisk in sugars, then eggs and vanilla. Fold in the dry ingredients.
- Pour batter into the pan, top with pecans, and bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Cool the brownies completely in the pan.
- Drizzle with the cooled caramel and let set for 30 minutes.
- Drizzle with the 2 oz of melted chocolate, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and let it set before slicing.
Notes
- Letting the brownies cool completely is essential for clean slices and for the toppings to set properly.
- Be careful when making the caramel, as hot sugar can cause serious burns.
- For the best flavor, toast the pecans lightly before arranging them on top of the batter.
- Using a parchment paper overhang makes it easy to remove the brownies from the pan.
Fudgy Turtle Brownies Recipe