Turtle Brownies

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Rich and fudgy turtle brownies are a divine treat! Topped with a homemade butterscotch sauce and filled with pecans, these brownies are not to be missed.

My kids always get so excited when I’m making brownies. What’s not to love about fudgy, chocolatey brownies?

Brownies are one of the first things I learned how to make as a kid, and yet we don’t have them nearly as often as we would like.

When I get in the mood, though, we have brownies a lot, which means lots of different kinds of brownies coming out of the kitchen, like peppermint brownies and strawberry cheesecake swirl brownies.

These turtle brownies are some of my favorites. I’ve been making them for years, and my former officemates couldn’t keep away from any batch I brought in!

Filled with pecans and topped with a homemade butterscotch sauce, they’re always a hit. If you love turtle candies, you’ll love these!

Ingredients for turtle brownies

You’ll need all the usual ingredients for brownies, plus a couple of extras.

Unsweetened chocolate – While some brownie recipes use cocoa powder, I use melted chocolate for turtle brownies to make them ultra rich and fudgy.

Unsweetened chocolate is usually sold in bars by the chocolate chips. You’ll need 4 ounces, which is the same size as many of the bars.

I recommend Ghirardelli, though Baker’s is also easy to find.

Butter – You’ll need butter for both the brownies and the sauce. Use unsalted butter, since we’ll be adding salt to the recipe.

Granulated sugar – Granulated (white) sugar is mixed into the brownie batter to sweeten it.

Brown sugar – Brown sugar is added to make the butterscotch sauce. You can use light or dark brown sugar, depending on the flavor you prefer.

Eggs – Standard large eggs. Because we’re only using 2 eggs, don’t worry if you have a different size egg.

Heavy cream – Also labeled heavy whipping cream, this is added to the sauce to make it rich and smooth.

Vanilla – I always recommend pure vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla. The flavor is worth it!

Salt – A little salt is added to both the brownie batter and the sauce to boost flavor. 

Flour – This recipe uses all-purpose flour. If you make any flour substitutions, note that the texture of the brownies might turn out differently.

Pecans – Chopped pecans are added to both the batter and on top of the brownies. You can use pecan halves to make a pretty top, if you prefer.

How to make turtle brownies

To make these brownies, first line an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, then lightly coat with nonstick spray. The paper/foil will make it easier to remove the brownies from the pan for cutting and serving.

Combine 1 stick butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute, then remove and stir. 

Continue heating in 30 second increments until the chocolate is almost completely melted, then stir to melt fully and make smooth.

Whisk in the sugar until blended, then whisk in the eggs one at a time.

Mix in the vanilla and salt, then add the flour.

Stir just until the flour is incorporated, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. 

Fold in half of the pecan pieces, then spread the batter into the pan.

Bake the brownies for 20 minutes. They’ll get a second bake after adding the sauce.

While the brownies are baking, make the sauce.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and brown sugar, whisking to melt.

Once the sugar is fully dissolved, whisk in the cream and salt.

Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes, whisking to prevent any scorching on the bottom of the pan.

Remove from heat and add the vanilla. It will bubble a bit so be careful!

Whisk until smooth, then set aside until ready to use.

After 20 minutes of baking, remove the brownies from the oven. Use a toothpick or fork to poke holes all over the brownies.

Pour the sauce evenly over the brownies, then sprinkle on the rest of the pecans.

Return the brownies to the oven for 10 minutes.

Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

Tips and tricks

• Line your baking pan with parchment paper or foil. This makes it easier to remove the brownies to cut and serve.
• Don’t overmix the batter once you add the flour. The flour should be just blended; this should take no more than 20 strokes.
• To make a caramel rather than butterscotch sauce, swap the brown sugar with granulated sugar.
• Try this recipe with walnuts instead of pecans.
• Put the brownies in the refrigerator or freezer to cool quickly and get a fudgier texture.
• For cleaner slices, use a large sharp knife, wiping the blade clean after each cut. Brownies that are fully cooled will slice better.

Storage tips

These turtle brownies store well at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make sure to cover them tightly with foil or transfer to an airtight container.

Brownies can easily be frozen to enjoy later! 

To freeze, let them cool completely, then remove from the pan. Either wrap the uncut slab of brownies in plastic wrap then foil, or cut the brownies into individual servings before wrapping.

I love to freeze them in individual portions because they make wonderful snacks when cravings hit! 

To thaw, let them come to room temperature, or unwrap and microwave for 30-60 seconds. 

Frozen brownies will keep for about 3 months.