The BEST German chocolate brownies loaded with chocolate, caramel and an amazing coconut pecan frosting. Super rich and full of chocolate goodness!
So I came up with the most AMAZING dessert recipe a few weeks ago….German chocolate BROWNIES! My family loves German chocolate cake and I do too, but mainly because of the frosting! The frosting is DIVINE! I eat it by the spoonful, although I probably shouldn’t admit that. ;)
I’m not really the biggest cake lover, but brownies are a whole different story! So I decided to combine my love of brownies, chocolate, caramel and coconut frosting to create these naughty little treats. They are super rich and full of chocolate goodness. Trust me, you’ll want to file this recipe away!
If you know me, you know I’m all about dressing up a box of cake mix or brownie mix. It helps simplify the baking process and still turns out so delicious. That’s why I used premade brownie mix in this. It makes it so simple and gives you time to focus on the homemade coconut pecan frosting, which really is the star of the show!
3 delicious layers
- Brownies: The first layer starts with a classic brownie base. I used a box of my favorite brownie mix to make thing easier, but you could definitely make homemade brownies from scratch if you’d like. I also love mixing in some semi sweet chocolate chips for even more chocolate flavor.
- Caramel: Next comes a layer of gooey caramel. All you need to do is melt the caramel bits until smooth, then spread the caramel over top of the cooled brownies.
- Coconut pecan frosting: The last layer is a rich and divine coconut pecan frosting. It’s perfectly thick and delicious and tastes amazing paired with the chocolate and caramel. After adding the frosting, I like to also add a drizzle of melted chocolate and a sprinkle of chopped pecans.
Baking tips
- Use fresh flaked coconut to make the coconut pecan frosting. It definitely makes a difference!
- For my chocolate lovers: drizzle chocolate on top of the brownies (before the caramel) or add chocolate chips to the brownie batter.
- Make sure each layer has cooled completely before adding the next on top.
- I recommend refrigerating the brownies after frosting and adding toppings. They are easier to cut when hardened. A plastic knife works best to cut them.
- The frosting makes a lot, so you can also bake in a 9×13″ pan and use 2 boxes of brownie mix to have more squares.
More delicious brownie recipes:
German Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies:
- 18 ounce box brownie mix , plus ingredients on box
- 1 cup caramel bits
- 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
Coconut Pecan Frosting:
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup butter , or margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut , make sure it's fresh
- 1 cup pecans , chopped
Instructions
- Bake brownies according to package in a 9×9" pan. Allow to cool.
- Melt caramel bits and heavy creamy in microwave-safe bowl. Cook for 30 second increments (stirring occasionally) until melted. Then drizzle over brownies.
- Make frosting by combining butter, egg yolks, sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 10 minutes (make sure to stir consistently). Add coconut and pecans.
- Spread frosting over top of caramel. Top with melted chocolate and pecans if desired. Allow to cool before slicing. Then slice into 16 squares.
Video
Notes
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Mmm!! Don’t you want to just take a bite?! Grab a cup of milk, you’re going to need it with these bad boys!
Except I have been making this recipe for years. I don’t think this is your creation.
I can’t wait to try this recipe for my husband!! This might even be a brownie that I can get into because I’m a German chocolate anything aficionado. Can the caramel be swirled into the brownie mix like a turtle brownie?
I haven’t tried it that way, but I don’t see why not. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
These brownies were amazing! I wish I made more!
The recipe is easy to follow and so delicious! Love the caramel flavor in the brownie. It’s definitely one of my favorite dessert recipes.
I find this recipe confusing. You say to use 2 boxes of mix, yet in the video you are clearly using only 1. Looks like you are using an 8×8 square pan. You only empty 1 bag of brownie mix into the mixing bowl in the video. How can this be 2 boxes of mix???? You go on to make the frosting as stated so how could I use 2 boxes of mix in a 9×13 and have the recipe for the frosting cover that much when you clearly use a smaller pan in the video? This makes no sense to me unless you actually fill just a square pan with 2 batches of brownie mix but, then you couldn’t bake according to the instructions because the batter is too thick for such a small pan. Can you please clarify in detail?
In the video it looks like a square pan is used. is that halving the recipe? With 2 boxes of brownie mix are we using a 9×13? Thanks. I have everything I need to make them. German Chocolate is my husband’s favorite
Yes, a 9×13 will work great! :)
Hi, I made this twice and both times the sides were crispy or hard. How do I back 2 boxes of brownies in a 9×13 pan and not have it get hard around the edges? We love this recipe and will make it often, but I would like to make it with out hard edges lol.
You could try lowering the temperature to see if that helps! :)
I’m the brownie making queen in our family and I’m always looking for a great new brownie recipe and I can tell you – THIS IS IT. We like the chewy texture of the brownie and the melted caramel on top makes it even better. I follow the recipe exactly and they turn out perfect every time.
These are amazing! The frosting is definitely a labor of love but worth it in the end. It took me 40-50 minutes on medium heat to get the frosting to a thicker consistency, so don’t give up on it! I will make these again!