Knock You Naked Brownies

By Cdreamgirl

Ingredients

• 1 box (18.5 Ounce) German Chocolate Cake Mix (I Used Duncan Hines)
• 1 cup Finely Chopped Pecans
• 1/3 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk (additional)
• 1/2 cup Butter, Melted
• 60 whole Caramels, Unwrapped
• 1/3 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Preparation

Step 1

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Here’s how it shakes out. Several weeks ago, I was gifted with a tin of brownies. To be specific:

Start by dumping this into a large mixing bowl.

It’s German Chocolate cake mix.

And if you’re not a cake mix person, don’t worry: because of the way the ingredients are combined, the end result just doesn’t have a box mix flavor. Promise.

Pour the evaporated milk over the cake mix.

Then add the butter…

Stir together until totally combined. It’ll be very, very thick–not at all like cake batter. More like a thick cookie dough.

Pour in some evaporated milk.

Heat it over the double boiler, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth and melted.

And pour the caramel over the top.

Next, grab the other half of the cake mixture. The original recipe says to pour it over the top of the pan, but it’s thick and anything but pourable. So I just roughly formed a large square with my hands.

(I think you could also spoon the mixture over the top, but I was afraid it would have too rough a texture.)

Carefully place the square of dough on top…

I know. I’m cruel. But because of the gooeyness of the ingredients, the brownies must be cooled, then refrigerated for several hours in order to set the ingredients together. So whatever you do, DO NOT make this recipe if you’re in the throes of a wicked chocolate craving. In fact, eat a piece of chocolate before you make the recipe. Only then will you have the strength to resist…and refrigerate.

You can divide the brownies however you’d like. I decided to make one large brownie for Marlboro Man, and one large brownie for me.

The verdict is this: I was actually quite amazed at how close these tasted to the gifted brownies I received. Of course, nothing can quite measure up to the Dorothy Lane brownie experience–it was life-changing. But this recipe is right behind it. I’ll make it again and again.

Incidentally, if you need a special food gift to send to a friend, family member, or business associate, I’d highly recommend a tin of Killer Brownies. They definitely make a statement.

(18.5 Ounce) German Chocolate Cake Mix (I Used Duncan Hines)

Evaporated Milk (additional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter. Stir together until totally combined. Mixture will be very thick.

Press half the mixture into a well-greased 9 x 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and set aside.

In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water) melt caramels with additional 1/2 cup evaporated milk. When melted and combined, pour over brownie base. Sprinkle chocolate chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.

btw…the caramels can be melted into the evaporated milk easily in the microwave instead of a double boiler.

I also make a version of this, but as a cake. Make the German choc cake according to directions. Pour 1/2 the batter in and bake. Then combine butter, caramels and 1/3 c. of milk in double boiler and melt. Pour caramel mixture, choco chips and walnuts/pecans over the baked half of the cake. Top with remainder of cake batter and bake again. It’s so incredibly good….and I’m going to have to try the brownie version, too!!

This cake mix recipe sounds freakin’ delicious!

and don’t over-mix!

Oh wow, these brownies have taken me to a very happy place. I love the idea of a layer of caramel between two layers of brownie. That’s just genius.

Be sure to count out your caramels and don’t just use the whole bag. It’s not a big difference in number but it makes a big difference in the consistency of the brownies.

heather

A co-worker of mine makes these whenever we’re working on a really big project, but she calls them Hip Huggers. They’re great for stress-eating.

This definitely makes Monday morning worth getting up.

Me too! I miss DLM and any time we drive through there, I make my husband stop for a box of these. We also get the peanut butter ones and the raspberry ones. SOOOOOOOO good!

Dorothy Lane Market is in the Dayton area in Ohio. They have the most amazing bakery! I am also a Dayton transplant, and miss these brownies with a passion. I am so ready to make these!

Aren’t the Dorothy Lane brownies incredible?! That place at Christmas time is just heaven on earth.

My MIL makes these as Turtle Brownies but knock you naked sounds way more fun. It is like eating a yummy piece of chocolate candy. The only difference is that they don’t have powdered sugar on them. YUMMY!!!!

Wow, cake mix? never would have guessed, I will try these!

Oh wow. I used to make these but in a 9X13 pan, more of them. Thanks for posting this. I forgot all about these!

I was so surprised to see this recipe this morning! My mom makes these all the time… although, we have a much more boring name – Chocolate Caramel Brownies. I request them for every birthday, holiday, family event! My favorite!

I have been making these for years…a staple to Superbowl parties over the years…sometimes I was invited to the Superbowl party on the condition I make these brownies!

Holy cow! I don’t think I’ve ever seens such a decadent looking brownie. I am a huge brownie fan. They seem to be my weakness lately. It’s usually the more traditional brownie that makes me weak in the knees, but I’m definitely going to have to try this. Wow!

Ah the Killer Brownie – brings back lots of memories! I am a University of Dayton grad and loved these brownies especially during finals week. Thanks for a recipe I can make at home!

I make these at least once a month and we call them Turtle Brownies. They are a huge hit. I spoon the batter over the top and it comes out beautifully. Also, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top is the bomb! I have mistakenly bought Devils Food cake mix and my daughter and her friends loved it just the same as using German Chocolate cake mix.

Oh my gosh!! I need to make some of these! But how on earth do you stay so slim, Ree, when you’re cooking up desserts like these???

On another note, I live in Norway, and have never seen this cake mix. Will any kind of regular chocolate cake mix do? Or is brownie cake mix better?

I have this recipe and you HAVE to use German Chocolate cake mix. Something in that particular cake mix makes the dough stiff.

I have been making this recipe for 25 years and have found out by trial and error you don’t HAVE to use German Chocolate (although it is the best IMO), but what is important is you choose a cake mix with pudding in the mix. If you don’t have cake mixes with pudding included, then just add a small box of chocolate pudding with the cake mix and you’ll be fine. I would HIGHLY recommend NOT using brownie mix otherwise you will end up with just a big glop of chocolate caramel goo. Not necessarily a bad thing unless you have your heart set on a brownie.

Michele N. I don’t think I’ve ever used a cake mix, so how do you know if a mix has pudding? Every grocery where I live doesn’t carry GCC mix, so I have to try something else, but none of the Betty, Duncan, or Pillsbury boxes say if that have pudding in there or not. Help!

Thanks Michele N. That’s good to know there is a way to substitute the german choc cake mix. I got my recipe from a friend and was give strict instructions to only use german choc! I’ll try your way sometime when i’m in a pinch.

Anyone have any suggestions if I was going to do this with out the box mix…

Larissa: If you try w/o a cake mix, I would prepare your favorite chocolate cake but with just one egg (more than that will give you Killer caramel cake instead of brownie) and use the butter instead of oil that is required in cakes. Instead of water, you’d add the evaporated milk. Also, to the dry ingredients, add one small box of chocolate pudding. My grandma’s recipe was specific about cake mix with pudding in the mix or adding a box of pudding. It’s important.

My mom made these every year for Christmas and now I’m carrying on the tradition. These are my absolute favorites, but they are so rich, so I cut mine into much smaller squares. They make great gifts!

Darn it, those look so good, but due to food allergies I don’t cook with mixes. I wish there was an alternative recipe from scratch!

I’m with you. Does anyone know how to immitate a German Chocolate Cake mix from scratch?

I’ll join in with you ladies. This will take some figuring out, but I’m sure we can eventually get the cake mix done right without the cake mix. Snag is, I’ve no idea what the end-result should actually taste like. Except awesome, that is.

i would just look up a german chocolate cake recipe and adjust it to fit into the 9×9 or make a 9×13 pan.

Oh my…DROOL! I will make them on the weekend and let you know how they turn out. I just ate fat free yogurt for breakfast and am contemplating gooey brownies… Something is wrong with this picture.

These look wonderful. I need to go to the store today and I am going to buy the ingredients to make some. My co-workers tomorrow are going to love them!

My grandmother started making these when my mom was in college and she was the only one with the patience to unwrap all those caramels. I took over as the official brownie maker when I was in high school. Then, last year, my brother made some to take to a party at work. And, of course, he discovered that they now make melting caramels that **you don’t have to unwrap individually**. After 10 years of me unwrapping the stupid candy (the worst part of making these brownies) he makes them once and doesn’t even have to do it! So typical of my luck.

Unwrapping caramels is what usually stops me from making a recipe that calls for them. I once tried to substitute caramel ice cream topping for the melted caramels-HUGE MISTAKE! Makes me sound like a lazy cook doesn’t it?

I found a bag of Caramel Bits. Little caramels chunks that you just pour in the bowl in melt AWESOME. No unwrapping caramels!

HHMMMMMM…. Gasp **** Sigh**** I want these NOW!! I love brownies and these look over the top insanely delicious! I think I have found my next dessert to make. Although you make watching what I eat EXTREMELY hard!! I need to lose weight and eating these AIN’T gonna help! ARGH!

Heather

Lord have mercy! You had me at chocolate and caramel. But then again, anything with sugar gets my attention. I am printing this right now and headed to buy my box of cake mix and caramels. Oh my Lord…this is not going to be good…for my waist line that is.

Goodness Ree, now I really need to get my children to learn how to like chocolate (I KNOW, can you imagine something ridiculous as that?). Because I need to make these and it probably would be best if someone would help me eat it. Otherwise I predict some serious sugar rush trouble

Oh man. I would make these, but I fear I would then eat them!

Holy cow I used to work in the bakery at DLM!! If you think the killer brownies are to die for, you HAVE to try Laura’s Cookies! They are THE best, richest and thickest iced sugar cookies anywhere! Everyone in my family requests them when we travel out of state! Oh, and p.s., after you try those, you should post a similar recipe so I can make them myself at home!

Ree, I’m going to make you jealous. DLM is 5 minutes from my house. But, I’ve never had a Killer Brownie – they’re a bit too sweet for me. I’ll send you more if you want them, though.

I was at Dorothy Lane Market a few shorts weeks ago, visiting my sister in prepartation for her wedding! We visited that place no less than three times. And you know what?.. She never mentioned the brownies… Not once… Cruel, cruel sister!

Perhaps she had good intentiosn and wanted to make sure our dresses fit for the ceremony. Or perhaps she too is unaware of their awesome exsistence!?!

Oh my heaven. I hate that I’m at work and can’t rush home to make these!

We had these last summer at a 4th of July picnic and I call them “crack brownies” because of their amazing addictive quality.

okay now I am feeling snitty because in the UK you can’t get the german chocolate cake mix. Are there any brit friendly alternates please?

Sheila: I have been making killer brownies for 25 years. I can tell you that I have used other chocolate cake mixes of which are very good (although I do prefer german chocolate). The key to the recipe is to use a cake mix with pudding in the mix. Those are pretty standard in the states now, but if now where you live, simply add a small box of chocolate pudding to the chocolate cake mix and you should be fine! Do NOT use a brownie mix…it will turn into just a big pile of caramel chocolate goo. Delicious? Yes, but not a brownie.

A box of chocolate pudding just means one bag/sachet/ box of chocolate pudding mix. 1 box of Jello pudding mix (the most popular brand) makes 4 1/2 servings of prepared pudding, so look for a box that makes 2 cups of prepared pudding. I used to buy Dr. Oetker when I lived in Germany and France, so I am pretty sure you can find something similar in the UK. Dr Oetker also makes cake mixes- I’ve used the Black Forest mix in a similar recipe and it turned out pretty good.

you can buy a Betty Crocker German Cake Mix on Amazon but for a whopping £3.99 (+p&p)…guess it depends how much we want those brownies??? (A LOT)

So… after looking at this, I do not think I will ever be statisfied with boxed brownie mix again! Thanks for opening my eyes AND now officially making me a brownie snob

I love your comment, “Hello beautiful lover and come away with me.” Combined with the recipe title, it completely made my day! Funny! Thanks!

HAD to make these as soon as i saw recipe,but didnt have german chocolate cake mix, only a yellow cake mix(my daughter’s-i don’t like yellow cake and she doesnt like chocolate) so i added cocoa. I had evap. milk but only half the caramels(used them in another recipe and didn’t restock,so my caramel layer a little looser than shown, and i used walnuts, my favorite nut. My prep pretty much looked the same as shown and they are in oven even as i type..they smell deevine!!! I love your blog!!

My MIL makes these for special occasions. My sis-in-law and I refer to them as THE brownies! We groan, and then dig in! We cut them smaller, somehow it just seems like we are not being as bad that way

For those who don’t like to do mixes, try it with the “Whatever Floats Your Boat” brownies on the food.com website. This is also a very thick dough, although maybe not quite as thick as pictured here, and makes brownies to-die-for. I made them with the choc chips in the dough and caramels in the middle, and they really are close to the DLM Killer Brownies. I live in Centerville, and agree with all the DLM comments. Nothing better!

Thanks so much, CindyL! I have been hoping someone would share how to make something similar to these without a mix, I cook only from scratch. I use a Hershey’s baking chocolate recipe to make my brownies, but I’d love to try something similar to Knock-you-naked brownies. Thank you, thank you!!

You have no idea how much I LOVE brownies. What I love even more is the fact that I live only about 45 minutes north of Dayton and where these brownies live! I am totally stopping there next time I’m in town and buying two…one for me and one for you! YUM. First I’ll try your recipe, though. Maybe I won’t have to spend the bazillion dollars on gas to get to Dorthy Lane Market and can just make them here instead!

I work in Dayton and whenever I have to order catering for my job I get the boxed lunches from Dorothy Lane Market because they come with Killer Brownies!! They also have other flavors- all wonderful! All addicting.

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