No turtles were harmed in the making of these brownies...

Last night I made a new recipe and SUCCESS!  I made Turtle Brownies and boy were they yummy!  Now, please note that this recipe does not require ACTUAL turtles.  They are called turtle brownies because they resemble the turtle candies that have chocolate, walnuts, and caramel...yum! 

I didn't take any pictures while making them but I do have a picture of the brownie aftermath but first...the easy peasy recipe.  To give credit where it's due I got the recipe from a friend at work whose wife made them for our holiday party.  She called them: Best Ever Brownies and the name is fitting!  I like to call them Turtle Brownies because that's what I've always known them as...

What you need:

• German Chocolate Cake mix (JUST the mix...I admit I was skeptical and confused at first wondering if I need to add the eggs, water, and oil too or if it was JUST the mix...it's JUST the mix...but you will see further why I was worried...there are no eggs, water or oil in these brownies!  SO that makes them healthy right!?
• 1 stick of butter (softened)-the actual recipe calls for 3/4 cup of butter but I accidentally tossed in the entire stick and it was yummy.  You can never have too much butter!
• 2/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 pkg of Kraft caramels (Car-A-mels)
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

What to do:

• Unwrap the caramels and place in a medium microwave safe bowl.  Add 1/3 cup of the milk-microwave 1 minute at a time and stir in between until fully melted
• In a large bowl combine mix, butter, and 1/3 c milk-stir/beat until mix sticks together.  I beat it to get the butter worked in and then stirred the rest with my hands.  Stir in nuts 
• Grease a 13X9 pan (I used glass) and press half of the mix into the bottom of pan
• Bake at 350 for 6 minutes
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips
• Pour caramel over mix
• Crumble the rest of the mix over the top.  
• Bake for 15-20 more minutes (I did 20 and my oven cooks fast)

I actually made a mistake and forgot to put the walnuts in the batter so I added them when I did the caramel and chocolate and it turned out great since all of the goodness was in between the two layers of mix.  

Now I never like to subject anyone to a new recipe until I have tried it so when they cooled I tasted a small bit and yum!!!  They were a big hit at dinner with the McGrains and Emily McGrain added it to the "things I am making for her birthday list" which includes:  Strawberries and fruit dip, tandy cakes, heath trifle, s'mores brownies and...I know there is more...I really need to start writing it down!  So when my recipes get added to Emily McGrains birthday list, I KNOW I did good. 

And here is the damage...look at that caramel-y goodness! 

Enjoy!!!