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Feature: Chocolate Caramel Brownies Celebrate “Brownies at Brunch” Month

Image: The Cookie Elf

The cookies are a version of Turtle Brownies or Turtle Cookies, so named after the original candy which featured a whole pecan, drizzled with caramel and then covered with light chocolate. The creased pecan back resembled a turtle shell, its grooves accented by the caramel and chocolate.

The brownies are layered with chocolate on the bottom, followed by pecans and caramel, and topped with one more coating of chocolate for good measure.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes, divided
Makes 24-36 bars

Get the full recipe for Chocolate Caramel Brownies. And be sure to get more brownie and blondie inspiration on our Brownies Pinterest Board.

Cookie Baking Tip of the Week: How to Check Doneness in Brownies

Image: Food Stories Blog

When it comes to checking for doneness, the cardinal rule for brownies is “Do Not Over Bake.”

Most recipes for baked items, like bar cookies, muffins, and cakes, tell you to check for doneness using the “toothpick test” rule. That is, insert a toothpick into the center of the item and when it comes out clean, the item is done baking.

Not so with brownies. A clean toothpick from a brownie center means the brownies are over baked. Instead, bake your brownies long enough so that the top firms up just enough to seal the center. You can still use a toothpick to check for doneness, but only at the edges of the brownie. If the toothpick inserted at the brownie edges comes out clean – or better yet, with just a few crumbs – and the center is firm, pull the pan out of the oven. The heat in the pan will allow brownies to “keep baking” while they cool on the counter … but they won’t be too dry.

See more helpful and interesting tips for baking cookies on our Cookie Baking Tips Pinterest board .

More Fun and Easy Brownie Recipes from The Elf

That’s it for now. See you next time!

Happy baking,