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Home | Desserts | Turtle Brownies

Turtle Brownies

By: Erin Indahl-Fink
Modified: June 12, 2024 - Published: March 3, 2014 - 13 Comments

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The EASIEST Turtle Brownies Recipe!

Made with a cake mix, this super chocolaty Turtle Brownies recipe is just as easy as they are delicious!  Loaded with lots of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, these Caramel Pecan Brownies are amazing anytime you’re in the mood for a sweet treat!

Cake mix turtle brownies in stack, caramel pecan brownies.

Caramel Pecan Brownies made from a Cake Mix!

Did you know you can make brownies from a chocolate cake mix? Yes! These Caramel Pecan brownies need just six ingredients and are the perfect quick treat when you’re craving chocolate and caramel with a bit of crunch.

I’ll show you the quick and easy steps to making these decadent, delicious Turtle Brownies recipe.

Made with a cake mix, this super chocolaty Double Chocolate Turtle Bars are just as easy as they are delicious! Loaded with lots of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, these bars are amazing anytime you're in the mood for a sweet treat!

Can I make brownies from a chocolate cake mix?

Yes! A chocolate cake mix and a brownie mix are similar (not identical) and can be adapted to be made into brownies.

What is the difference between cake mix and brownie mix?

The primary differences are the leavening agents, like baking soda or baking powder, which is generally not used brownie mixes. This is why brownies tend to be more dense and fudgy and cakes tend to be fluffier. Brownie mixes will also contain more chocolate than a cake mix.

Can I use a brownie mix instead of a cake mix for this recipe?

Yes. The mixes tend to contain the same ingredients. The consistency of the turtle brownies will be fudgy and dense.

What ingredients do I need to make turtle brownies?

For this recipe you will need the following:

  • Chocolate Cake Mix
  • Butter
  • Milk (preferably dairy milk, not plant based)
  • Caramels
  • Pecans
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Made with a cake mix, this super chocolaty Double Chocolate Turtle Bars are just as easy as they are delicious! Loaded with lots of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, these bars are amazing anytime you're in the mood for a sweet treat!

Can I use caramel bits instead of caramel squares?

Yes. These are the same product and sold by the same brand. Be sure to follow the package directions when melting.

We use caramel bits in our Campfire Smores Nachos recipe which are a fantastic addition to the chocolate and marshmallows.

As you can see, these bars are loaded with chocolate, caramel and pecans!  They are super-gooey, fudgy and really hit the spot when chocolate is what you’re craving.  Perfect with a scoop of ice cream, they make one heck of a fantastic dessert at the end of the day!!  

Tutle brownies on cutting board, caramel pecan brownies.

How long should I wait before cutting the brownies?

Once the brownies are done baking, remove from the oven and let cool. I would recommend waiting 1 hour. I do NOT recommend cutting the brownies right away. The caramel will be piping hot can burn if you try to handle. Let the brownies cool to room temperature before cutting. They will still be slightly warm on the inside.

Made with a cake mix, this super chocolaty Double Chocolate Turtle Bars are just as easy as they are delicious! Loaded with lots of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, these bars are amazing anytime you're in the mood for a sweet treat!

If you loved these Caramel Pecan Brownies, check out some of my other similar treats:

  • German Chocolate Brownies
  • Lunch Lady Brownies
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
  • Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies
  • Mint Chocolate Brownies
  • Black Bean Brownies
  • Black Forest Brownie Bites
  • German Chocolate Cookie Bars at Real Housemoms

Do you enjoy the convenience of baking with cake mixes? Check out these other cake mix recipes:

  • Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies
  • Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
  • Blueberry Cobbler Dump Cake
  • Cake Mix Peach Cobbler
  • Pumpkin Dump Cake
  • Strawberry Dump Cake

Here are how these Easy Turtle Brownies come together:

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Turtle Brownies

Erin Indahl-Fink
Chocolate, caramel and pecans have never tasted so good! These Double Chocolate Turtle Bars are the perfect dessert when you’re craving something gooey and delicious!
4.17 from 12 votes
Made with a cake mix, this super chocolaty Double Chocolate Turtle Bars are just as easy as they are delicious! Loaded with lots of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, these bars are amazing anytime you're in the mood for a sweet treat!
Print Recipe Remove Ads Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 200 kcal

Equipment

  • 9 x 13" Pan This Anolon non-stick 9 x 13" cake pan comes with a lid for easy storage. Great for cakes, brownies and bars!
  • Glass Mixing Bowls Ideal for cooking and baking, and great for anything that needs to go into a microwave.
  • Rubber Scrapers These Cuisinart rubber scraper spatulas are fantastic for fillings, batters, and so much more!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (13.25 oz. box) chocolate cake mix
  • 3/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 cup milk divided
  • 1 (11 oz. pkg.) Kraft caramels bits or squares
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13" plan with non-stick spray.
  • In a mixing bowl pour the melted butter and 1/2 c. milk into the cake mix. Stir. The batter will be sticky. Using a rubber scraper, spread 1/2 the batter into the 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chopped pecans and chocolate chips over the thin cake layer. Melt the caramels with 1/2 c. milk in the microwave. (Melt in 1 minute increments, stirring each time. It took me 2 1/2 minutes to get to a smooth fully melted consistency.) Pour the caramel evenly over the nuts and chocolate chips. Drop the remaining cake batter (I used my fingers to drop small chunks) on the caramel. Bake 15 minutes more at 350 degrees.
  • Cool completely before cutting.

Notes

Storage: Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. Brownies will keep for up to 5 days at room temperature. Brownies can be frozen. Will keep frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 20squaresCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 71mgSugar: 12g
Keyword chocolate cake mix brownies, caramel brownies with pecans, turtle brownies, turtle brownies recipe, brownies with caramel
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Cake mix turtle brownies on cutting board, caramel pecan brownies in stack.
Stack of lunch lady brownies with top brownie with bite taken out.
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Comments

  1. Megin says

    03.05.2014 at 9:27 am

    These look so amazing! I’m pinning for later. Thank you for sharing this at Brag About It Link Party on VMG206.
    ~ Megin of VMG206

    Reply
  2. Charlotte says

    03.08.2014 at 3:58 am

    Glad to hear that your stressful couple of weeks are over 🙂 These turtle bars look so decadent and I’m DEFINITELY going to have to find an excuse to make them soon!

    Reply
  3. Lisa @ Cooking with Curls says

    03.08.2014 at 9:37 pm

    Oh, I could use a couple of pans of these delicious brownies! They look amazing Erin. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says

    03.19.2014 at 5:00 pm

    Yum, they look delicious. I’ve never had turtle bars before, I think I need to give them a try. Visiting from Hit Me with your Best Shot Link Party. I co-host Sweet and Savoury Sunday and would love for you to link up with us 🙂

    Reply
  5. karen@somewhatquirky says

    03.21.2014 at 8:42 pm

    I know why you love these! I have been making a version of these for about 25 and it remains my favorite brownie EVER. I use german chocolate cake mix and evaporated milk and milk chocolate chips. my oh my.

    Reply
  6. Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen says

    04.13.2014 at 8:08 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this on Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s! You are one of this weeks features!

    Reply
  7. delightful.e.made@gmail.com says

    06.10.2014 at 11:36 am

    70+ Best Brownies Ever
    https://delightfulemade.com/2014/06/09/70-best-ever-brownie-recipes/

    Reply
  8. google plus apple says

    09.11.2014 at 8:34 am

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate
    your efforts and I will be waiting for your next write ups
    thanks once again.

    Reply
  9. Mary C says

    05.23.2017 at 4:11 pm

    Is it better to use whole milk vs 2% or what about evaporated milk. What’s the best?

    Reply
  10. Linda says

    10.28.2022 at 6:56 pm

    How do I know I have the right size package of caramels?

    Reply
    • Barbara Tongate says

      04.13.2023 at 11:53 am

      What is the right size bag of carmels?

      Reply
      • Erin Indahl-Fink says

        04.18.2023 at 10:11 am

        Kraft makes 11 oz. bags of either caramel bits or wrapped caramel squares. You can use either one of these.

        Reply
  11. Mary Lowe says

    03.20.2023 at 9:37 pm

    I made the Double Choc Turtle Brownies using Duncan Hines Dark Choc Fudge cake mix. I liked the concept of using cake mix. They are very rich but I found that the bottom layer crumbled and didn’t hold together like brownies should. I won’t use this recipe again

    Reply

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