Turtle Brownies

These Turtle brownies are amazing!  Or, to quote my 14 year old, "Freakin' amazing!"  I made a batch for him to take to a movie night at a friends house.  As soon as they were gone he begged me to make another batch.  He wasn't the only one that loved them.  As soon as my hubby got home from work and was told I made Turtle Brownies, he headed for the kitchen and cut the biggest brownie I've ever seen him eat!

1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Caramel layer:
1/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter

Chocolate layer:
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup half and half

2/3 cup pecans, chopped

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Mix until well combined and smooth.  Add melted butter, eggs and vanilla and mix until everything is moistened.  Do NOT over mix!  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.  Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted 1 inch from the edge comes out clean (may have a few crumbs on it). Do not over bake.  Cool completely.

To make the caramel, combine brown sugar and 1/3 cup of the butter in a small pan.  Heat over medium heat until the butter is melted and the mixture comes to a boil.  Add remaining 1/3 cup butter and stir until melted.  Let the mixture return to a boil and let boil for 1 minute.  Pour over cooled brownies and let cool completely.

Combine the chocolate chips and half and half in a small microwave safe bowl.  Heat in 30 second increments, stirring well after each addition, until melted and smooth.  Pour over caramel and carefully spread.  Sprinkle with pecans.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

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