German Chocolate Brownies
These German Chocolate Brownies deliver the same terrific chocolate, coconut, caramel, and pecan flavors as their namesake cake with a fraction of the work.
Rich fudgy brownies are topped with the decadent, gooey coconut topping that German chocolate cake lovers adore.
Why You Must Make
- The base is made of dense, fudgy, and decadent brownies.
- Topping them with a rich, nutty, caramelly coconut topping pushes these over the top!
- As a coconut lover, these gems were calling my name! And though they’re not low-cal, they’re much less dangerous to your figure than eating a slab of German chocolate cake!
Expert Tips
- Line your baking pan with non-stick foil. When a dessert has a sticky component like these brownies, it’s especially helpful to assist in removing the brownies.
- Toast your pecans by placing them in a skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently until you can smell a nutty aroma. This helps bring out the essential oils, making the pecans more flavorful. Watch carefully so they do not burn.
- PRO-Tip: When measuring sticky ingredients like Karo syrup (also honey, peanut butter, etc), spray your cups or measuring spoons with non-stick cooking spray like Pam for easy release.
- Use a toothpick to check for doneness. When inserted into the center and removed, the brownies are done if it comes out clean. Otherwise, return to the oven for a few more minutes and recheck.
- PRO-Tip: As with many of my desserts, I chill these brownies before slicing. Cold brownies will cut cleaner when first refrigerated. But serve at room temperature for the best eating experience. Check out my post on cutting bar cookies for more details.
How to Make
I packed these German Chocolate Brownies up and took them to two luncheons. You see, Bill won’t touch anything with coconut and I cannot get enough of it. So these sorts of tempting treats must be high-tailed out of the house. Making these brownies is much less daunting than a full-blown German chocolate cake! Here are the highlights:
- Preheat the oven and line your baking pan with non-stick foil.
- Melt the butter and chocolate together, and set aside.
- Whisk together the eggs and sugar, then add the vanilla and chocolate. Finally, add the dry ingedients.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake as directed.
- For the topping, mix together the ingredients as directed. Drop spoonfuls across the surface of the baked and cooled brownies. Spread evenly over the brownies
- Broil about 6 inches from the element, watching carefully, for about 3 minutes, until the topping is lightly browned and bubbly. DO NOT walk away while broiling or your topping could burn.
I did sample one of these German Chocolate Brownies first, though, and declared them blog-worthy. And even more than blog-worthy, they were insanely delicious. So off they went. To the hospital on Thursday and to a holiday lunch with my girlfriends on Friday.
I’m also a fan of the caramel brownies made from a box of German Chocolate Cake mix, but these German chocolate Brownies from scratch are a pure, wholesome indulgence!
Frequently Asked Questions
German chocolate is a type of dark chocolate created and named for Samuel German in 1852. It’s smooth and mild in flavor plus it’s sweeter than semi-sweet chocolate due to the addition of sugar.
Baker’s Brand sells German chocolate that is readily available at large grocery stores. But if you can’t locate it, semisweet chocolate works well (that’s what is used in this recipe).
German Chocolate contains 48% cacao, which is obtained from the tropical evergreen from which cocoa butter, chocolate, and cocoa powder are produced. Note: cacao refers to the raw, unrefined bean and cocoa refers to the bean after it’s roasted.
As a comparison, Semisweet Chocolate typically contains 60% cacao and Bittersweet Chocolate contains 70%. Milk Chocolate is only required to contain 10%.
You May Also Like:
- Gooey Upside Down German Chocolate Cake from Tidy Mom
- German Chocolate Brownie Pie
- German Chocolate Brownie Pie
- 7 Layer Bars
- German Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes
- Plus, check out all my Best Bar Cookie Recipes
German Chocolate Brownies
Rich brownies topped with the classic, gooey German chocolate frosting
Ingredients
For Brownies:
- 1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Topping:
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup coconut
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted for the best flavor
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick foil (or use regular foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray). Set aside.
- In a microwave, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Stir in vanilla and chocolate mixture. Add flour and salt and mix till combined.
- Pour into prepared pan. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean. Let cool before frosting.
- For the topping, combine butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Add coconut, pecans, corn syrup, and milk. Mix till well combined. Drop spoonfuls over top of brownies then spread evenly over top.
- Broil about 6 inches from the element, watching carefully, for about 3 minutes, till lightly browned and bubbly.
Notes
Adapted from Taste of Home
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 brownieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 268Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 119mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 3g
58 Comments on “German Chocolate Brownies”
I’ll bet Mrs KR knows the origin of German chocolate, but I sure didn’t. Interesting. And this is a neat recipe — love brownies (but then, who doesn’t?) and these look superb. Thanks!
My first boyfriend loved German Chocolate cake and I made it for him. I think it was the first cake I ever made. I would have rather made these!
Ooo these brownies look absolutely delicious and inviting (Would be dangerous to keep them in our house too!) And this pecan coconut topping? Yes please!
I haven’t seen German chocolate here, but rest assured I’ll keep my eyes open next time I’m at the grocery store. I too, love all the ingredients in these brownies, definitely a temptation I’d prefer to share.
Oh boy, these would be dangerous in my house! Of course, they’d only be dangerous for a short while:@)
My favorite cake with a brownie! Yes please!
This was a stellar recipe. One that I will be making often in the week, months and years to come.
My kids loved it!! Perfect dessert in my house!
German chocolate cake is a house favorite and now everyone is asking for the brownies instead!
My hubby loves coconut in his brownies and this would make him so happy. Thanks for sharing your recipe on MM. Pinned and will be featuring it on tonight’s party.
I love the decadent German chocolate frosting on these brownies! It adds such great texture and flavor to this dessert.
These are what we consider a “dangerous” recipe in our house…It’s dangerous because as soon as I make them we all devour them! They’re SO good, a fast favorite in our house!
These look delicious!
i made these yesterday ! And they were so delicious 🙂 thanks a tonne for this sweet treat 🙂
I think insane is the perfect description Liz! I love coconut, especially with chocolate!
Perfection!
This sounds like a wonderful brownie and I’m sure my kids would love this.
I was just thinking I brownies would be great today………….now I must make these! 🙂
Wondering if all Dads love chocolate cake.Your German chocolate flourish to your brownies is brilliant! As a coconut fan you must have also been an Almond Joy bars fan as a child, yes?
And I was just looking for something cocouttyyy to make for a friend this week. Choc + Coconut = AWESOME!
Happy NY Liz. Look forward to more of your deliciousness in 2015.
My men refuse to eat anything with coconut which I do not understand. I love the combo of chocolate, coconut and pecans and these brownies look amazing!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, I will eat these 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
That coconut topping looks heavenly, I love these brownies!
Liz,
My Dad’s favorite cake was German Chocolate, too. Maybe it was a generational thing. I made one for him most years. Even when he was in the nursing home, I made German Chocolate Cupcakes for the nurses. Now I can make these yummy brownies. Thanks for sharing.
I love German chocolate cake, so I have no doubt these brownies are heavenly, especially with this topping!!
Damn girl this looks REALLY good! You are the mistress of bars and brownies!
I’ve a kid who is obsessed with this cake and asks for it on his birthdays. Your version looks delish and easier.
German chocolate has been on my radar since before the holidays. These look amazing. I’m anxious to try your recipe, but might have to save it for a special occasion.
I LOVE anything coconut too and the topping on these looks simply divine. Might have to try it out 🙂
That’s my strategy too, anything THAT tasty MUST be exiled! Two days ago I baked French Macarons (almond and lemon) and I immediately packed them up and took them to my meeting downtown. Sweets that tasty should NEVER be trusted around the house! These German Chocolate squares look and sound amazing, although I would have to give them away too
oh my these are going on the top of my must make list! Drooooooool. Amazing 🙂
I have to start sharing my desserts too otherwise I will end up transforming my blog from food to diet! They look utterly delicious and I completely understand why you have to give them away!
I often had German chocolate cake as my birthday when I was a child. Love the combo of coconut and pecans! Genius on brownies, Liz!
I wish I could eat chocolate – coconut and German Chocolate brownies are so tempting!
Happy New Year!
Lizzy,
My hubby wouldn’t eat anything with coconut either. I bet these were devoured by all those lucky enough to get some.
Annamaria
That coconut topping is the killer! Love it!
Happy New Year Liz!
I have never had this kind of brownie…they look delicious, since I love coconut, I can see myself eating a few of this…thanks for the recipe…
Hope you are having a fabulous week 🙂
I love coconut, and these look really tempting. I have take my goodies to work, where they disappear in a blink. 🙂
I’m a big coconut fan and these really look delicious, very spoon worthy indeed.
It is definitely the topping that takes the cake! In this case, the brownies! Loving these, Liz!
My brother who always claims to not like cake, used to request German chocolate cake for his birthday dessert when we were kids. I think he’s really love these brownies – they look really terrific!
Absoluely love the addition of coconut. With Bill not eating them, there’s more for you, and nice to hear that everyone enjoyed these bars – they look divine.
I was thinking about doing this over Christmas and told myself it was all too hard. 🙂 How beautiful they look.
Wow, I think I would eat the whole lot, but no, festive feasting is finis for me!
I hope Bill was able to find foods he could eat in NZ! I do love the sound of these brownies with coconut and caramel. How well they would have been received at the hospital and the ladies lunch xx
ooh, now if I was there I would definitely be able to help you polish these off – I love coconut and all those other goodies you’ve put on top.
These brownies look fudgy, gorgeous and so addictive!! And I love coconut; I need to make these ASAP! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, Liz 🙂
Um, hellllllooooo brownies!
Those look positively amazing!!!
I love German Chocolate Cake! And haven’t had one in ages. So I should have these brownies instead — much easier to make. Excellent recipe — thanks. And Happy New Year!
These brownies are stunning! I cannot wait to give them a try!
The topping looks heavenly and yes…blogworthy! Thank you for sharing, love it!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Not only do you make the most amazing bars but you cut them so symmetrical. How do you do that? Pinning!
What a wonderful and delicious idea Liz! I forget about German Chocolate cake for some reason but love to be reminded!
Liz!! I’m having so much fun following along on FB and seeing photos from your trip! glad you are having a great trip!!! love love love these brownies! you turned German chocolate cake into a brownie! and love learning more about Bill’s food aversions!!! how can he not like coconut?!!!
Your brownies always look smazing Lizzy!!
xo
I kind of love these <3 Did you know that German chocolate was named after a man named German? It was a brand of chocolate with a recipe calling for a coconut topping!
I would eat the whole pan too. I always laugh when someone says they don’t like sweets. I think it might be true 90% of the time but there is always something.
These would probably be my favorite brownies, I love the coconut topping:@)