The Best German Chocolate Brownies

The Best German Chocolate Brownies — Rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with the best German chocolate frosting!! Sinfully delicious! Easy, no-mixer recipe that’s an automatic hit with everyone!!

Easiest Chocolate Fudge Brownies 

If my Turtle Brownies and Coconut Mounds Bar Brownies had a baby, this is what it would look like.

Dense, rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with a coconut and pecan frosting that’s sweet and full of texture from shredded coconut and pecans.

I’m not sure why the ‘frosting’ on German chocolate cakes or brownies is called frosting when it’s more like a topping, but I’m not about to question the name of something that tastes so good.

I used chopped Fisher Pecans in the topping. Fisher Nuts is the only national brand of recipe nuts entirely without preservatives, making them an excellent choice for baking.

The brownies are an easy, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that’s as fast as using a boxed mix and they turn out fudgy with zero cakiness. It’s a brownie base I’ve fallen in love with because it’s easy and always delivers amazing results.

What’s in German Chocolate Brownies? 

To make these homemade chocolate brownies with German chocolate cake frosting, you’ll need: 

• Unsalted butter
• Dark chocolate
• Eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Brewed coffee
• Instant espresso granules 
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Full-fat evaporated milk
• Light brown sugar
• Sweetened shredded coconut flakes 
• Chopped Fisher pecans 

How to Make German Chocolate Brownies 

To make these easy chocolate brownies from scratch, melt the butter and chocolate together in a large bowl. Then, stir in the eggs, sugar, vanilla, coffee, and espresso granules. Whisk in the flour and salt last. 

Turn the brownie batter into a foil-lined 8×8-inch baking dish and bake until the center has just set and is no longer glossy.

Once the brownies are out of the oven, it’s time to make the German chocolate cake frosting. To a medium saucepan, add the evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, and salt. Heat over medium-low to low heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened. 

The frosting takes less than 10 minutes to make. The hardest part is whisking it continuously, but I just considered that a mini arm workout before diving into these decadent brownies that are the best German chocolate brownies I’ve ever had.

Can I Double This Recipe? 

Yes, double the ingredients list and bake the brownies in a 9×13-inch baking dish. The bake time should be roughly the same. 

Can I Use Sweetened Condensed Milk?

No! You MUST use evaporated milk to make the German chocolate cake frosting. Sweetened condensed milk is already sweetened and is supremely sticky, not at all what you want for the frosting. 

Tips for Making Fudgy Brownies 

You must line the baking pan with foil, otherwise the brownies will never come out. 

After you’ve melted the butter and chocolate together, let the mixture cool off for a minute or two. If you add the eggs in too soon, you may scramble them.

Likewise, it’s important that you continually stir the German chocolate cake frosting. Whisk constantly or there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in the bottom of your saucepan.

Print

Yield: 12

The Best German Chocolate Brownies

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes

Additional Time 58 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with the best German chocolate frosting!! Sinfully delicious! Easy, no-mixer recipe that's an automatic hit with everyone!!

Ingredients

Brownies

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 6 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used Trader Joe’s 72% Pound Plus Bar)
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon brewed coffee (leftover or cold coffee is okay), optional but recommended
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso granules, optional but recommended
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Topping/Frosting 

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) full-fat evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened and quartered
• 2 large egg yolks (discard whites or save for another use)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut flakes
• heaping 1/2 cup chopped Fisher Pecans, lightly toasted if desired

Instructions

Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil leaving overhang and spray with cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.
2. To a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter, chocolate, and heat on high power to melt, about 2 minutes. Stop to check and stir after 1 minute. Heat in 15-second increments until chocolate has melted and mixture can be stirred smooth. Allow mixture to cool momentarily before adding the eggs so they don’t scramble.
3. Add the eggs, sugar, vanilla, optional coffee, optional espresso granules (neither make brownies taste like coffee and both enhance and round out the chocolate flavor), and whisk vigorously to combine.
4. Add the flour, salt, and stir until smooth and combined without overmixing.
5. Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula as necessary.
6. Bake for about 20 to 22 minutes, or until center has just set and is no longer glossy. A toothpick should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. 
7. Allow brownies to cool in pan on top of a wire rack while you make the topping.

Topping/Frosting:

1. To a medium saucepan, add the evaporated milk, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, salt, and heat over medium-low to low heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until mixture has thickened. Whisk constantly or there’s a high likelihood you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in the bottom of your saucepan. The mixture should be boiling gently while whisking.
2. Remove pan from the heat, add the vanilla, and whisk to combine using caution because the mixture could bubble up.
3. Add the coconut, pecans, and stir to combine. Allow topping to cool in pan for about 5 minutes.
4. Turn topping out over brownies, using a spatula to spread it as necessary.
5. Allow brownies to cool uncovered for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. I prefer to cover the brownies with foil and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight because they’re much easier to slice when chilled and I prefer the taste when chilled.

Notes

Brownies will keep airtight at room temp for up to 1 week, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. I store them in the fridge.

Adapted from The Best Turtle Brownies and Allrecipes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 225mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 6g

More Easy Brownie Recipes:

The Best Turtle Brownies — Super fudgy and loaded with chocolate, pecans and caramel! So.crazy.good!

Chocolate Coconut Mounds Bar Brownies — Like eating a Mounds candy bar that’s on top of rich, fudgy brownies! Easy and oh so good!

Oreo Cream Cheese Brownies – Fudgy brownies with a layer of cream cheese and tons of Oreos! They’ll be your new favorites!

Andes Mint Brownies – Super fudgy brownies loaded with Andes! Chocolate + mint is the best! Meet your new favorite brownies and so easy!

Salted Caramel Pretzel-Topped Fudgy Brownies — Super fudgy scratch brownies as easy as a mix and the salty-and-sweet combo is irresistible!

Loaded Fudgy Candy Bar Brownies — Perfect for using extra candy you have! There’s no such thing as too much chocolate!

Fudgy Peanut Butter Cup Brownies — Easy, one-bowl, no mixer brownies with a full-size PB cup in every brownie! As fast as using mix and tastes way better!

Homemade Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies – A dead ringer for the real thing and just so good!

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