Sometimes you just need a really yummy chocolate treat that is quick and easy to make. When that happens to me I grab this recipe and throw it together real quick. It is so fast and easy because it uses a box brownie mix. (Sssshhhhhhhh! Don’t tell anyone, they don’t have to know!) I know I am usually all about making the yummy stuff from scratch, but you need to have a fallback for when you just don’t have the time or ingredients to bake from scratch.

Caramel Nut Brownies (Turtle Brownies)

This is a really easy basic recipe that can be thrown in the oven when your mother-in-law calls and says she is on the way over. Just throw the brownie box out in the trash in the garage and she will never know that you didn’t bake it from scratch.

Ingredients

1 box of any PREMIUM brownie mix (If I am not baking from scratch, then I am not using a generic. I will pay the extra quarter for the brand name.)

Eggs, water, vegetable oil – whatever is needed for the brownie mix

1-14 oz bag of caramels (you can have the kids unwrap them as you make the mix)

3 Tablespoons whipping cream

1- 11.5 oz bag of semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts work great, but you can use almost anything that yo have on hand)

Directions

Heat oven to 350

Spray bottom and sides of 9” baking pan with cooking spray

Make brownie mix according to box directions. Spread 1/2 of the batter in the pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While baking the first half of the batter microwave caramels and cream for 30 second intervals. Stir in between cooking times. (2 to 3 minutes will be plenty of time.)

When the brownie mix is done pour caramel mix over the partial cooked brownie. Then sprinkle with the chocolate pieces, the chopped nuts, and the rest of the brownie mix.

Bake 30-35 minutes longer. Watch carefully until the center is almost set.

Cool for at least 1 hour before cutting or it will crumble into pieces.

I like to start these as we are finishing dinner. It is nice to have a warm treat after dinner has been cleaned up and after the kids have finished their homework. We like to eat them a little warm with vanilla ice cream, but we don’t mind them a little crumbly. I have to admit that they might not look like much, but they are delicious! My family likes to put a little chocolate sauce over the ice cream but I am a purest. Vanilla ice cream plain is how I take my dessert.