Turtle Cheesecake Brownies - An Easy Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

Caramel. Pecans. Chocolate. Cheesecake. Brownies. What else could you need? These Turtle Cheesecake Brownies are the most delicious & decadent dessert. Brownies topped with a cheesecake layer, more brownies, pecans, ooey-gooey caramel, and chocolate drizzle. These are the BEST cheesecake brownie bars EVER!

Hey everyone – I am Allyson from Domestic Superhero, and I am SO super excited to be Shannah’s new dessert contributor! My blog, Domestic Superhero, mainly features all kinds of recipes and then a little bit of DIY type of stuff here and there.

I love creating delicious mouth watering recipes, and I can’t wait to share them with the Just Us Four Readers! The first recipe I’ve whipped up for y’all are extra decadent Turtle Cheesecake Brownies.

Caramel. Pecans. Chocolate. Cheesecake. Brownies. What else could you need? This is the most delicious and decadent dessert I’ve made in a while. I will admit, I love cheesecake. I love brownies. When you add all this ooey-gooey deliciousness to the top, I pretty much fall in love.

I know, I know, you just made your New Year’s resolution to be healthier, right? Well, I have a secret for you….these are made with 1/3rd less fat cream cheese!! Ta-da!!! Healthy!!!

Am I convincing you yet? Do you need convincing? Probably not. Just make them and eat them…or make them and give them away – you will have 20 new best friends!

These are really easy to make, and although they take some cooling/fridge time, they are SO worth it. Make these the day before a party or event, and then add the toppings the next day. Perfect.

Don’t like pecans? Substitute your favorite nuts, anything would be delicious.

If you loved this Turtle Cheesecake Brownies recipe, check out these:

What you’ll need for this recipe:

Yield: 16

Amazingly delicious brownie recipe filled with caramel, chocolate, nuts and cheesecake!

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time55 minutes

Additional Time2 hours

Total Time3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Brownie Layer

  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cup cocoa
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts

Cheesecake Layer

  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs

Toppings

  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce
  • 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer combine melted butter with sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Add the cocoa and mix well. Then add the flour, baking powder and salt, walnuts, and mix until just combined, do not over mix.
  3. Set aside one cup of the brownie batter and smooth the rest into a foil lined 7×11 baking dish.
  4. For the next layer: With your stand mixer or hand mixer (cleaned off), begin making your cheesecake layer by beating cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
  5. Add the vanilla and then the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
  6. Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the brownie mixture. Using a spatula, smooth it evenly over the brownie batter.
  7. Drizzle ¼ cup of caramel sauce over the top of the cream cheese layer. Then, using the reserved cup of brownie batter, drop spoonfuls over the top of the cheesecake/caramel. Use your spatula or a butter knife to gently swirl the batters. This will combine the cream cheese layer and top brownies layer a bit. This does not need to be perfect.
  8. Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes. Start checking at 45 minutes and look for the cheesecake to be just set.
  9. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then using the sides of the foil, pull the brownies up and out of the dish. Set on a wire rack and allow to cool for at least 1 hour, and then place into the fridge for at least 2 hours.
  10. Remove from fridge, and drizzle 2 TBS caramel sauce over the top of the brownies. Then sprinkle the chopped pecans over the caramel, covering the top.
  11. Place chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir with a spoon or fork, then continue to microwave in 15 second increments, stirring every 15 seconds, until the chocolate is melted. This shouldn't take more than 90 seconds at the most (probably more like 60 seconds).
  12. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the nuts. Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over the nuts as well.
  13. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes

  • Be sure to refrigerate the brownies when you are done serving.
  • I like these best served cold so I allow them to cool for an hour on the counter, and then refrigerate another hour before serving. It's up to you!

I can’t wait to see y’all in February! I will have another mouth watering recipe to share with you! Want more in the meantime? Feel free to visit my blog, Domestic Superhero, or connect with me on social media! I love sharing recipes on Facebook and Instagram!

You can also connect with me here:

Turtle Cheesecake Brownies - An Easy Cheesecake Recipe (5)

– Allyson

Turtle Cheesecake Brownies - An Easy Cheesecake Recipe (6)

Turtle Cheesecake Brownies - An Easy Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cheesecake? ›

The main trick with cheesecake is gentle, coaxing heat. Just as you want them to cook slowly, you also want them to cool gradually. Quick changes of temperature upset the structure of the cake, causing cracks. For a moister, creamier cake, turn off the heat when the center's still loose and let cool in the oven.

What is turtle cheesecake made of? ›

The cheesecake starts with an Oreo cookie crust that is covered in caramel sauce, then a layer of creamy cheesecake. Once cooled, it is sprinkled with toasted pecans and drizzled with both caramel and chocolate.

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Making it lighter: If you don't like the thick and heavy cheesecake then I would recommend adding more eggs if you want to keep the classic taste or adding sour cream or heavy whipping cream if you like how those change the taste.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

Why do they call it turtle cheesecake? ›

This cheesecake, using caramel, chocolate, and nuts, is named after Turtles, a confection developed in the United States by Johnson's Candy Company in 1918, so named because the shape of the treat resembles a turtle.

What is the turtle flavor? ›

Three ingredients that can perk up any palate or day, Turtles ® clusters are bursting with crunchy pecans, creamy caramel, and all wrapped up in luscious chocolate. The taste of the original caramel nut cluster is made to delight.

Why do they call the dessert a turtle? ›

A turtle pie is a dessert pie, originating in the United States. The turtle pie got its name due to the caramel, chocolate and pecans that are used to top the pies, which are said to have a similarity in flavor to that of DeMet's Turtles, which use similar ingredients.

What makes New York cheesecake different than regular cheesecake? ›

New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special. It also includes extra eggs and egg yolks to provide and smooth consistency.

What makes cheesecake so good? ›

The major component of this dessert's delicious flavour is undoubtedly high-quality cream cheese. After that, you add sugar, full cream, or sour cream. For a baked variant, some recipes ask for eggs and flour, while those for unbaked cheesecakes call for gelatin or its plant-based equivalent (agar-agar).

How long should cream cheese sit out for cheesecake? ›

Two hours or less. All soft and semi-soft cheeses held above 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be discarded according to the American Dairy Association. When making a recipe that requires cream cheese, or other creamy cheeses like Neufchâtel, it's important to follow proper food safety standards.

What makes cheesecake taste like cheesecake? ›

This famously smooth-tasting cake gets its signature flavor from extra egg yolks in the cream cheese cake mix. By the 1900s, New Yorkers were in love with this dessert.

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