Easy Caramel Pecan Brownies

1  pkg.  (19 to 21 oz.)  brownie mix (13x9-inch pan size)
1 pkg. (11 oz.) KRAFT Caramel Bits
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 cups pecan Halves, divided

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Generously grease foil. Prepare brownie batter as directed on package; spread half of the batter into prepared pan. Cover remaining batter; set aside.

BAKE 20 min. or until top is firm to the touch. Meanwhile, microwave caramel bits and whipping cream in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., stirring every 30 sec. or until caramel bits begin to melt; stir until completely melted. Add 1 cup of the pecans; mix well. Spread over partially baked brownie; top with remaining brownie batter. (Some caramel may peek through batter.) Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

BAKE an additional 25 min. or until top is firm to the touch. Cool completely. Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting to serve. Store in covered container at room temperature.

From whence it came:  I found this divine recipe on the back of the Kraft Caramel Bits package.  I thought it looked yum-e, and I was right!  I bought the Caramel Bits at Super Walmart.  You can probably find them wherever you shop.

Why it's blogable:  If you're into chocolate mixed with nuts and ooey, gooey caramel, I don't need to tell you why it's blogable.  Is there a better combination than chocolate, caramel and nuts?  I think not!  These very easy to make, and my family went nuts for them.  Get it?  Nuts for them!  They have nuts!  Get it?  The Spy Who Loves me was especially head over heals for these brownies.  Oh, and did I mention the edges?  The edges are kinda crispy and gooey all at the same time.  The edges have got it goin' on!  This recipe is similar to this recipe, but different enough that they both deserve a place of honor on my little blog.

You can print it here if you want to!

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!

Symphony Brownies

Here's whatcha need:

Here's whatcha do:

Mix a family size brownie mix as directed on package.

Pour half into greased 8x8 inch pan.

Place two 4.5 oz Symphony Candy Bars (the ones with toffee and nuts) on top of the brownie batter.

Pour remaining brownie batter over the candy bars.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

The original recipe said to make these brownies in a 9x13 pan and to use three candy bars, but I like thick brownies so I did the 8x8 and it worked great.  Either way would be terrific!  Also, you could use My Favorite Brownie Recipe instead of the box mix, but if you do, use a 9x9 pan because that recipe is a bit bigger.

From whence it came:  My married daughter has the cutest friend named Kylee Dial.  This girl is a wonderful girl.  She is from Chicago and grew up with my sonny-in-law.  She comes from the nicest, most fabulous family.  We spent time with all of them last summer here in San Diego at my daughter's wedding, and they are the kind of people that you just feel like you've known forever and ever.  Kylee, this recipe is to-die-for, and you are a hero for sharing it with all of us!

Why it's blogable:  Here's the deal...these brownies are beyond fabulous!  I made them for the first time this past week and everyone did back flips over them.  Who am I kidding, there isn't an Anderson in this household who has ever done a back flip.  None of us have ever even attempted a back flip.  We're simply not back flippers.  But if we were, we would do one over these brownies.  That's how good they are!  I promise.  Trust me.  You must.  Make them soon.  Make them now.  Hurry!

A family tradition:  Us Andersons have a tradition in our family that when it's your birthday, or Father's Day, you get to pick the meals you want to have that day.  Breakfast and dinner.  You're on your own for lunch.  Two meals is enough.  Let's not get carried away!  So this week I asked The Spy Who Loves Me what he wanted to eat for Father's Day breakfast and dinner.  (I'm not kidding about lunch.  I draw the line at lunch.  I won't do it and you can't make me!)

I'm always curious as to what these goofballs that I live with will choose.  My teen son chose Cheese Strata last year for his birthday breakfast and Crockpot Lasagna for his birthday dinner.  My teen daughter wanted Breakfast Burritos for breakfast and for the life of me I can't remember what that girl wanted for dinner.  The Spy Who Loves Me was born on Christmas Eve and let me just say, I find that annoying!  Christmas Eve should just be Christmas Eve.  He also finds it annoying and shares many sob stories (none of them true) about how when he was a little red headed, freckled face, four eyed boy he would get the toy for his birthday and the batteries that went in it for Christmas.  Don't you dare feel sorry for that man.  Everyone has always gone out of their way to make sure that Christmas Eve is HIS big day.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, the brownies.  Father's Day is tomorrow so this past week I asked The Spy what he wanted...I think I already said this.  I should just get to the point.  This is what The Spy picked.  Whole Wheat Pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  The Spy and the teen son have a love affair with bacon.  It's not good.  For dinner he wants Stromboli and salad with just iceberg lettuce, cheese and ranch dressing.  Totally unhealthy!  Totally ridiculous!  But it's Father's Day so I have to do what he wants.  It's a tradition.  But don't you worry, I'll make him pay by feeding him tons of vegies this coming week!  And guess what he picked for his Father's Day dessert.  These brownies.  That's how much The Spy loves these brownies.  Wanna know a secret?  I'm not making these brownies for The Spy for Father's Day.  Nope, I'm not.  They are delicious, and they are so easy, but I decided to be a rebel and make his favorite pie from his childhood.  Chocolate Cream Pie with a really thick graham cracker crust.  He knows me well enough to know that I'm pretty much gonna do what I want, so he won't be too surprised.  I'll make him the brownies some other day...just because.  Just because I'm the best wife in the whole wide world!  Now if I can just convince him of that, we'll be in business!

Click here to get the printable:
Symphony Brownies

You can watch my BFF, Paula Deen, make them here:
Paula's Symphony Brownies

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!

Caramel Brownies

 1/3 c. evaporated milk
14 oz. package caramels (approximately 50 caramels)
1 box German chocolate cake mix
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. evaporated milk
1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk in double boiler. Heat, stirring constantly until melted (or microwave on high 4 minutes, stirring after each minute). Remove from heat and set aside.

In another bowl combine cake mix, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and butter; beat with mixer until mixture holds together. Stir in nuts. Press 1/2 of this mixture into 9x13 greased and floured pan. Bake 6 minutes.

Take out of oven. Sprinkle chocolate chips over crust and cover evenly with caramel mixture. Crumble remaining cake mixture on top. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Refrigerate. When cooled, cut into squares.

From whence it came:  This recipe was given to me by my sister-in-law, Lynn.  I have this wonderful memory of Lynn making these brownies in her kitchen many years ago while all her cute little blond kids sat at the counter and unwrapped all the caramels.  It's funny how we remember silly little things like that, but it's such a sweet memory of mine.  Lynn passed away over 17 years ago when all of her children were still very young.  At that time, her oldest was 11 years old and her youngest was 10 months.  That ten month old baby girl is graduating from high school this month, and I couldn't be more proud of her.  Boy do I love those blond nieces and nephews of mine, who are now all grown up and just as wonderful as their mom always dreamed they would be.  These brownies make me think of all of them, and especially of their momma.

Why it's blogable:  These brownies are really good, folks!  How can you go wrong with a combination of chocolate and caramel?  You can't!  Not even if you try!  I haven't made this recipe in so long, but for some reason is has just been on my mind lately.  I've been meaning to post it and today is the day.  They are very easy to make, and you can get your kids to unwrap the caramels for you.  Getting the family together in the kitchen is a good idea...a very good idea!  It creates memories that will last a lifetime!

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!

My Favorite Brownie Recipe

Sand Art Brownies

In large bowl combine:

2 ¼ cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa

½ cup chopped nuts

1 ¼ cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Add:

¾ c. butter or margarine, melted

4 eggs

1 c. walnuts (optional, but they make them even yummier!)

Bake in greased pan in preheated oven set at 350 degrees:

Pan size Baking Time

9 x 13 - 30 minutes

9 x 9 - 50 minutes

From whence it came: At first I couldn't remember who gave me this heavenly recipe, but I'm happy to tell you that it came from my sister-in-law, Geralene Beckett. You will see Geralene's name again on this blog because some of my favorite recipes have come from her. She is a great cook, and an even better sister-in-law. They are called Sandart Brownies because it was one of those recipes you layer in a jar to give as a gift and then have the person you gave it to add the eggs and butter.

Why it's blog worthy: It's such an easy brownie recipe, and they turn out great every time. Also, it has basic ingredients and you don't have to melt chocolate because it calls for cocoa powder.

Tips: I often double the recipe to make extra thick brownies. If you double it in a 9x13 pan, cook them for 50 minutes. Also, they are amazing if you frost them with chocolate butter cream frosting. This is how I make it:

In a bowl mix:

1 box powdered sugar

1/2 c. cocoa powder (more for darker chocolate frosting)

1 cube butter

1 T. vanilla (yep, that's right, a whole tablespoon!)

Enough milk to make the proper frosting consistency. Add the milk slowly because you don't need much.

Hope you enjoy stirring it up!