When you are craving a rich, comforting treat but you don’t want a mountain of dirty baking dishes, then this Shortcut Turtle Brownies Recipe is the perfect solution. This recipe uses the best bakery hack, Rolo Candies!
This easy brownie recipe turns a standard store-bought baking mix into a decadent, bakery-quality dessert packed with gooey caramel-filled candy and crunchy pecans in just about 35 minutes. The true secret to this tasty dessert is all about folding the ingredients in strategically to get the best solid brownie bars.
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Jump to:
- What are Shortcut Turtle Brownies?
- 50 Fixes for Brownie Mixes
- Key Takeaways
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Shortcut Turtle Brownies
- Pro Tips for the Best Shortcut Turtle Brownies
- Variations and Substitutions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Serve with Shortcut Turtle Brownies
- Storage and Reheating
- More Brownie Recipes
- More Dessert Recipes
- Shortcut Turtle Brownies
What are Shortcut Turtle Brownies?
These rich, fudgy Shortcut Turtle Brownies start with a brownie mix, then you load them up with chopped caramel filled chocolate candies and crunchy pecans inside and on top.
50 Fixes for Brownie Mixes
Shortcut Turtle Brownies come from one of our favorite cookbooks. I’m sharing a clever new cookbook, 50 Fixes for Brownie Mixes by Aimee Berrett.
Aimee and I have been friends for several years. She’s a fellow Utah food blogger, and is part of the mother and daughter duo on Like Mother, Like Daughter where they share their favorite recipes.
The book is divided into four fun sections, decadent brownies, brownie batter desserts, brownie mix-ins and other brownie delights. The decadent brownie section has decked out traditional brownies. Then the other three sections transforms brownie mix into pancakes, fudge, truffles, fruit pizza and so much more.
It was hard to pick which recipe to try first, but one of my favorite candies is Rolos, so I couldn’t resist making the Turtle brownies.
Key Takeaways
- Ready in just about 35 minutes or less!
- Perfect combination of box mix plus your own add-ins.
- Make with pantry ingredients!
- Perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks.
- Always get a fudgy consistency every single time!
Ingredient Notes
- Box Brownie Mix – Use your favorite 18-ounce fudge brownie box mix from the store; this is the time-saving foundation for the brownies.
- Eggs, Oil, Water – Use these ingredients as instructed on your specific box of brownies.
- Chopped Pecans – Divided and used for both inside the brownie and on top. This will give a little bit of crunch inside.
- Rolo Candy – Used again for inside the brownie and on top, these caramels melt down to create that gooey pocket of caramel throughout the brownies.
How to Make Shortcut Turtle Brownies
- Preheat oven and prepare brownie batter according to package directions.
- Mix ½ cup pecans and 1 cup Rolo pieces into brownie batter.
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake brownies for 28-31 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Remove brownies from oven and sprinkle ¼ cup chopped pecans and ¼ cup chopped Rolos over brownie top.
Pro Tips for the Best Shortcut Turtle Brownies
- Use a pan liner if preferred; use parchment paper to line the brownie pan. This will help avoid a sticky mess when it comes to the caramel candy.
- Be sure to let the brownies cool. If you want the perfect cuts of brownies, be sure to fully cool the brownies. They can be cooled quickly in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Unwrap the Rolo Candy while cold; this will make it easier to unwrap and chop into clean quarters. Just pop them in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes.
Variations and Substitutions
- Salted Turtle Brownies – Add half a teaspoon of flaky sea salt directly over the top of the brownies right as they come out of the oven for an elevated sweet and salty flavor.
- Nut Options – If you do not have pecans on hand, use walnuts or salted peanuts.
- Pretzel Turtle Bars – Stir in half a cup of crushed mini pretzels into the batter along with the Rolos for extra salty crunch.
- White Chocolate Drizzle – Once the brownies have cooled completely, melt a handful of white chocolate chips and drizzle over the top of the brownies.
Frequently Asked Questions
These brownies can be baked and prepared a full day in advance. Store them wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature.
Wrap the fully cooled, sliced brownies in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe storage bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
If the chunks are too large or the batter is too thin, they can sink. Be sure to chop the Rolo candies into small pieces and evenly distribute them.
This recipe can be made gluten-free. Use a gluten-free brownie mix and verify that all other ingredients you choose are gluten-free to avoid any cross-contamination.
What to Serve with Shortcut Turtle Brownies
Vanilla Ice Cream
Coffee
Homemade Whipped Cream
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator
Store your sliced brownie bars in a single layer inside an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer
Freezer individual tightly-wrapped brownies for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Reheating
Place a single brownie square on a microwave-safe plate at medium power for 10 to 15 seconds until warm. If frozen, let it thaw at room temperature for at least an hour before serving or warming.
More Brownie Recipes
These Shortcut Turtle Brownies turn a simple store-bought box of brownie mix into a bakery-style treat with a Rolo Candy hack and pecans. Enjoy this gourmet treat made simple!
More Dessert Recipes
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Shortcut Turtle Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 18-oz. box brownie mix*
- eggs oil and water listed on back of brownie mix
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup chopped Rolo candy
For the Top of the Brownies:
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup chopped Rolo candy
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare brownie batter according to package directions.
- Mix ½ cup pecans and 1 cup Rolo pieces into brownie batter.
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake brownies for 28-31 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Remove brownies from oven and sprinkle ¼ cup chopped pecans and ¼ cup chopped Rolos over brownie top.
Lizzy
Thanks for the sharing recipe. I tried them out and they turned out absolutely amazing.
Lizzy : )
Barbara Schieving
That’s great Lizzy – sounds like you’re off to a great start.
Velva-Tomatoes on the Vine
Shut the front door! Love, love turtle brownies. Yours looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Velva
Barbara Schieving
Thanks! 🙂
Betsy Scotto
Please clarify: 2 boxes of brownie mix ( & associated ingredients), but same amount of nuts & candies as listed in recipe? Is the baking time different for 2 boxes? Thanks for advising — I would like to make these!
Barbara Schieving
Great question Betsy – I updated the notes on the recipe. I did not double the nuts and candies and the cook time was 50 minutes. Enjoy!
Carol
Oh YUM! Chocolate and caramel and easy? That’s a winning combo in my kitchen. 🙂
Thank you Barbara and Aimee-the brownies look and sound amazing.
By the way, Barbara-I’m jealous at how perfectly cut all your baked goods are…..even with a ruler and super long knife, I can’t get mine to look as good as yours do. 🙂
Barbara Schieving
Thanks so much Carol! You’re definitely going to have to try them.
aimee @ like mother like daughter
Barbara! Thank you so much for your support of me, my blog and my my book! I am so glad you guys all liked the brownies!
Barbara Schieving
You’re welcome! Always happy to help promote great recipes. Congratulations on the cookbook.
Rosa
They look very tempting and wonderfully moist!
Cheers,
Rosa