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.
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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!
I made this yesterday and took it to work. The taste is great! It’s not overly sweet. The problem I had was the frosting did not thicken enough and oozed out everywhere after I cut it. It seems like it needs a thickening agent. I put a little powdered sugar in, but it still didn’t thicken up. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Abby! I make German chocolate cake a lot (it’s my dad’s favorite!) and the frosting can be kind of tricky. I’ve found you really have to cook it quite a bit to get a good, thick consistency. Then, make sure you add in all the pecans and coconut (sometimes, I add in even more than the recipe calls for!) to help it “gel.” Additionally, refrigerating it is a good idea, too, to help that topping set and stay thick. Once you master the topping, it’s quite a treat! (My husband sometimes just asks for topping, to eat straight! Or with graham crackers. Or pretzels. The list goes on and on!)
I can not eat Coconut this there a replacement for that? Thank you Sandy
Hi Sandy! I’m not sure what a good substitute would be, but you could leave it out! It may just be a little thinner.
Awesome!will definitely give a try
Hi, do you think that if I halved this recipe it would still work out even if I made the brownies in a 9 X 13 pan? Thanks!
Yes definitely, it will just be a little thinner! :)
I was getting ready to make these and realized the brownie mixes that I bought are for an 8×8 pan not 9×13. What did you use?
I get irritated when I forget to look at that, but I think it should stand out more on the box.
Hi Gwen! The 8×8 should work fine! I’ve used both.
I am going to make these brownies for father’s day. What size pan did you use? Thanks so much for a great recipe.
I used a 9×13 pan! :)
2 boxes of brownie mix in one 13×9? How long did you bake it?
Hi Kelley! Yes, I used 2 boxes, but I can’t remember how long they baked for. I would add 10 minutes to what the package says and then check it with a toothpick and add time accordingly after that.
I heart this recipe! Yummy- my favorite cake made into brownies. Thinking this looks like a good Sunday afternoon project with my girls. Visiting from Under the Table and Dreaming.
This sounds heavenly!! Not that I need any more goodies around the house but I do have some extra caramels that I need to use up! Thanks so much for sharing at The Creative Spark – featuring it tomorrow. Happy Halloween to you and your family!
Jenn :)
German chocolate cake is my favorite! I will definitely be making these; thanks for sharing!
Two of my favorite things in 1! Holy Cow I am so excited to make these!
Lisa @ Over the Big Moon
If you ever link up to parties I would love for you to link these up to our first ever 4th Friday Finale @ Over the Big Moon!
http://overthebigmoon.blogspot.com/2011/10/4th-friday-finale-102811.html