These Buckeye Turtle Brownies were born when I couldn’t stomach throwing away a heavenly caramel pecan mixture from a candy turtle experiment gone bad. I had no choice but to repurpose it into these insanely good brownies. Who doesn’t want to eat a brownie with a thick, creamy peanut butter topping under gooey caramels, mixed with pecans, and drizzled all over with chocolate?? If I must.

People ask my husband all time how he stays so thin with all the baking and cooking I do. They must think he is greeted daily with a counter full of decadent treats and food, all laid out, ready for him to taste and comment on when he gets home. Ha ha! In a cruel twist to my family this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Why would I want food to just lay around and torment me all day? When it comes to delicious food, especially desserts, I have the will power of a 3 year old. Therefore, I employ some effective strategies to ensure I’m not buying larger and larger clothes every month.

Most importantly, every weekday starts off with a sufficient calories-burned deficit. There’s no pretense I exercise religiously for my health or cardiovascular stamina.

My local YMCA is a godsend because A) free childcare and B) no kids are allowed in workout area. Catch my drift? Workout = me time with no kids. You had me at free childcare. I’m there. Everyday.

Secondly, good food doesn’t just stick around the house waiting to be nibbled on intermittently. I make it, I eat it, and the leftovers must immediately leave the premises.

Luckily my husband is an elementary principal, and everyone knows teachers’ lounges are the perfect crime scene for disposing of food quickly. (Sorry guys, better the 30 of you than the one of me).

Another trick I use unfortunately drives my kids (and probably husband) crazy. Freezing the crap out of anything and everything makes it very difficult to eat it in a moment of weakness.

I have to freeze desserts for the same reasons impulsive buyers freeze their credit cards. We both need time to really weigh our wants versus needs, ponder if that instant gratification is in our best interest, but yet still be able to access it in an emergency.

Believe me, I do, when my Frozen Bakery Wonderland opens for business every weekend.

In extreme cases I will resort to throwing away a dessert if I can’t handle having it on premises without getting the shakes. This for sure drives Ryan crazy.

He knows I’m about to surrender it to the trashcan when I ask him five times in 15 minutes if he’s going to eat that last piece of cake. I will! Don’t throw it away! I just don’t know how he can be in the same room with something so tormenting and not annihilate immediately. Why didn’t I get that gene?

These Buckeye Turtle Brownies were relinquished to my husband’s staff. My pants and I thank you all immensely for taking one for the team.

Of course, since I had to do quality control on them, they were made gluten free with the Stop-Looking Brownie recipe, but you can use whatever brownie mix or recipe you prefer.

If you are going to make them gluten free, always use a high-quality gluten free flour such as Cup 4 Cup or Bob’s 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour, so there is no off-putting taste or texture.

Before you start eating them, though, best to have a plan in place for relinquishing the seven remaining rows.

SAVE THESE BUCKEYE TURTLE BROWNIES TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD!

And let’s be friends on Pinterest! I’m always pinning great recipes!

4.41 from 50 votes

Print

Buckeye Turtle Brownies

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

Buckeye Turtle Brownies recipe are layered with fudgy brownies, creamy peanut butter topping, sweet salty caramel pecans, and drizzled with salted chocolate

Course: brownies, Dessert, gluten free brownies, gluten free dessert

Servings: 24

Calories: 247 kcal

Author: https://www.mamagourmand.com

Ingredients

• 1 9X13 brownie mix or recipe I used the Stop-Looking Brownie recipe

Peanut Butter Topping:

• 6 tbsp. butter, softened
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. milk

Turtle Topping:

• 11 oz. bag of caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tbsp. milk
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Chocolate Topping:

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
• course sea salt or fleur de sel, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Bake your 9X13 brownie mix or recipe according to directions. If you are using the Stop-Looking Brownie recipe I did not mix in the last cup of chocolate chips before baking, but you can if you want. Cool brownies completely.
   
2. For the peanut butter topping*, beat all ingredients together in a medium bowl until well mixed (will be very thick). Scoop spoonfuls of peanut butter topping all over cooled brownies. Press the peanut butter topping gently on the cooled brownies using fingers.
   
3. In a microwaveable safe bowl place caramels and milk and heat on high for about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes**, stopping to stir intermittently. Remove immediately just after caramels are almost smooth. Pour in chopped pecans, mix, and scoop in spoonfuls over peanut butter layer. Use an offset spatula or spatula to smooth over peanut butter.
   

4. In another microwaveable safe bowl place chocolate chips and vegetable oil. Melt on high for about 1 minute**, stirring occasionally until chocolate is about melted and smooth. Pour over caramel layer and smooth with offset spatula. Sprinkle with course sea salt or fleur de sel, if desired.

❉DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? DON'T FORGET TO GIVE IT A STAR RATING AND COMMENT BELOW!❉ 

Recipe Notes

UPDATED 2/18

*If you want a more caramel tasting topping, halve peanut butter topping ingredients and keep caramel ingredients the same. 

**The best ways to melt caramels and chocolate is to heat them until they are ALMOST melted. Remove from microwave and stir until mixture is smooth and all solid pieces are gone. 

Nutrition Facts

Buckeye Turtle Brownies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 247 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 16g 25%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 9mg 3%

Sodium 97mg 4%

Potassium 152mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 24g 8%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 19g

Protein 3g 6%

Vitamin A 2.1%

Vitamin C 0.2%

Calcium 3.4%

Iron 4.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

❊SHOP THE RECIPE❊

Here are some items I used to make this recipe:

Cup4Cup Gluten Free Flour Ι Angled Icing Spatula Ι KitchenAid 6 Qt. Professional Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

.    .      

OTHER RECIPES TO LOVE:

Baked Chocolate Orange Oat Pudding

Flourless Fudge Filled Nutella Cookies

Pineapple Carrot Cake with Fluffy Pineapple Whipped Cream Frosting

MORE RELATED RECIPES:

Samoa Rice Krispie Treats from Like Mother, Like Daughter

Gluten Free Almond Butter Blondies from Vegan Richa

Best S’mores Bars from Pinch of Yum

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you – which helps justify to my family all the time I spend on the computer.