German Chocolate Caramel Brownies are sure to knock your socks off! These rich, fudgy, ooey-gooey, sweet – slightly salty brownies are balanced bites of perfection. Nothing is more heavenly than a chocolatey brownie with a gooey caramel center.
In need of a quick, fool-proof dessert that anyone can make? This German Chocolate Caramel Brownie is sure to do the trick! With just 6 ingredients this recipe is ideal for taking to the next potluck or picnic. Unbelievably easy to prepare, this sweet and salty decadent treat is delicious!
How delicious do these German Chocolate Caramel Brownies look!? I mean it is almost unfair how good these bars come out of the oven being. Usually it is hard being the star of the show, but these puppies wear that crown with pride.
If on the hunt for other well loved desserts you can't go wrong with crowd favorites like Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies and Heath Bar Chocolate Cake. And if looking to feed large groups of people Pumpkin Sheet Cake, Scotcheroo Bars, and Texas Sheet Cake are sure to do the trick.
🥘 Ingredients
Starting with just a cake mix these German Chocolate Caramel brownies are filled with magic that leaves everyone thinking they are a gourmet bakery style brownie. With 6 ingredients and a spare 30 minutes this treat is worth it!
- German Chocolate Cake Mix - Don’t fret, there is nothing “boxey” about this cake mix brownie.
- Butter
- Condensed Milk
- Chopped Pecans
- Chocolate Chips
- Caramel
🍳 Step by Step Instructions
We are going to start off this recipe with a little prep work. First, let's get that oven pre-heated and a 13x9 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Then set aside the pan.
Next, in a bowl combine the cake mix, melted butter, part of the condensed milk and nuts. Stir everything together until it comes to a cookie dough consistency.
Next, divide the dough in half and gently press one half of the brownie dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create bottom layer. Then place in the oven and let bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, you will want to get your caramel sauce ready. Trust me here and put in the extra effort. This caramel sauce doesn’t take long to whip up and it is sooo much better than any pre-made caramel sauce you will find in the store. Plus the jarred stuff won’t set up the same and just make a runny mess of your German Chocolate Caramel brownie bars.
To make the caramel sauce put all the unwrapped caramels and second portion of condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl. Slowly melt the caramels in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until caramels are just melted.
After 10 minutes remove the pan from the oven and pour the prepared caramel sauce over the hot brownie layer. Then you will want to crumble the remaining brownie dough over the caramel layer.
Once done sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and place the pan back in the oven to finish baking for 15-18 minutes. Lastly, pull your German Chocolate Caramel brownies from the oven and allow to cool COMPLETELY before attempting to cut and serve.
💭 Top Tips
Make life easier for yourself and whoever might be doing the dishes and line your pan with parchment paper. This will help your German Chocolate Caramel Brownies pop out of the pan so much smoother! Plus it will help keep your brownies beautiful for serving.
As hard as it will be, you've got to let these cool completely before cutting them. Trust me when I say that they are so much easier to slice when set.
If you just can't stand to wait one second longer, you can speed up the setting process by popping the pan in the fridge for 30 minutes when the pan is cool to the touch.
👩🏻🍳 Make It Your Own
German Chocolate cake mix gives these brownies just the right amount of chocolatey yumminess. But if you are on the hunt for something a little different try some of these other variations. There are so many easy and delicious ways to take these bad boys to the next level!
- Use a Devil’s Food or Red Velvet cake mix for a richer, more chocolatey flavor.
- Sprinkle the top of your brownies with sea salt for a nice sweet and salty kick.
- Turn your brownies into a true German Chocolate treat and sprinkle that caramel layer generously with shaved coconut and toasted pecans.
🍽 Storing
When storing leftover brownies you can keep them on the counter in an airtight container as long as the house isn’t too warm. If the house is warm wrap and store brownies in the fridge to keep the caramel from getting too soft.
German Chocolate Caramel Brownies can be stored this way for up to a week. Or wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Quick tip - for easy snacking cut the brownies into bite size squares before putting in the freezer!
📖 Recipe
German Chocolate Caramel Brownies
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 1 package package german chocolate cake mix
- ¾ cup butter melted
- ⅓ cup condensed milk
- 1 cup chopped pecans optional
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Caramel Layer
- 60 caramel squares
- ½ cup condensed milk
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9 baking dish or line with parchment paper. Set pan aside.
- In a bowl combine the cake mix, melted butter, condensed milk and nuts.1 package package german chocolate cake mix, ¾ cup butter, ⅓ cup condensed milk, 1 cup chopped pecans
- Divide the brownie dough in half. Press half of the dough into the greased pan. Set other half of dough aside.
- Place the pan into the oven and bake the bottom layer of brownie for 10 minutes.
- While baking prepare the caramel sauce. In a microwave safe bowl add unwrapped caramels and condensed milk. Slowly melt caramels in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until caramels are just melted.60 caramel squares, ½ cup condensed milk
- Remove pan from oven and pour caramel sauce over hot brownie layer. Crumble remaining brownie dough over the caramel layer. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and place pan in oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes.1 cup chocolate chips
- Once cooled to the touch place pan in the fridge for roughly 30 minutes to allow caramel to set before cutting into bars.
Monica Hindmarsh says
My family can’t get enough of this dessert and asked me to print it and add it to our recipe book.
Jessica Lee says
It was really good. I tweaked it a little bit and made homeade carmel sauce and added coconut to the brownie batter! Definitely going to make this again
Danielle Price says
Love these! I love the chocolate to Carmel ratio… not too chocolatey and easy to make!
Jenny Smith says
The recipe you didn’t know you needed. Thumbs up from the entire family
Brooke says
Oh myyy the self restraint needed when these are on the counter. Easy and absolutely delicious.