How to Make Turtle Espresso Brownies for Your Valentine

There's something about chocolate, and few things will impress more than a pan of chocolate brownies made from scratch. With espresso, pecans, and carmel. These are sure to be a big hit with your Valentine.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup butter
• 1.5 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• pecan halves
• Smuckers carmel ice cream topping
• 2 tbs dry ground espresso or coffee

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla

3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa, espresso or coffee, baking powder, and salt

4. Combine ingredients from step 2 and step 3. Add in chopped pecans. Beat with electric mixer for 2-3 minutes.

5. Spray 9X13 pan with butter, vegetable oil, or canola cooking spray. Do not use olive oil spray. Spread about a tablespoon of flour across the pan as well.

6. Pour mixture into a 9X13 inch greased and floured pan. Lay 18 pecan halves on top of batter, as if to include 1 pecan half per brownie. Pour carmel ice cream topping on batter in a zig zag motion. Do this both horizontally and vertically

7. Bake 30 minutes in a 325 degree oven. Cool brownies before attempting to cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Goes great with ice cream or a cup of homemade hot cocoa!
• butter wrapper may also be used to grease pan if cooking spray is not available
• Brownies are sweet and delicious without frosting. Additional carmel topping may be added to individual brownies if desired

Resources

• Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe

[KuanShiYin]

on 2/19/2009 I tried it! They were good - more of a cakelike brownie.

[KuanShiYin]

on 2/16/2009 How decadently delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

[luv2laugh]

on 2/14/2009 mmmm, sounds absolutely delicious! Thanks