Mini Turtle Brownie Bites (Treats For Co-Irkers)

First, a little story about me, myself and I.

Me: the sensible one who wants to post healthy meals and treats for you.

Myself: the dental hygienist who is always concerned with nutrition and making sure your teeth aren't exposed to treats filled with sugar.

I: will now show you how to make these decadent turtle brownie treats. Me and myself are gagged and tied up over in the corner.

Mini Turtle Brownies (recipe and idea adapted from King Arthur)

1 cup unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups Dutch-process cocoa
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 TBSP vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 X 13 inch pan with a double layer of foil, leaving enough foil hang over the edge so you'll be able to grab onto it to lift the brownies out of the pan later. Spray foil lightly with cooking spray.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the sugar and stir to combine. Return the mixture to the heat briefly, just till it's hot, but not bubbling; it'll become shiny looking as you stir it. Heat the butter and sugar a second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which will yield a shiny top crust on your brownies. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.

Stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder and vanilla, Add the eggs, beating till smooth: then add the flour and chocolate chips, beating will well combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake the brownies for 28 to 30 minutes, (this took more like 35 minutes for me) until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out dry (though it may have a few crumbs clinging to it). The brownies should feel set both on the edges, and in the center. Remove them from the oven, and after 5 minutes loosen the edges with a table knife; this helps prevent the brownies from sinking in the center as they cool.

When brownies have cooled, lift them out of the pan by grabbing on to both ends of the foil. Lay foiled brownies on a flat surface. With a biscuit cutter or deep cookie cutter, cut out rounds of brownie and place on a cooling rack that has been placed over a sheet of wax paper.

In double boiler, melt about 18 ounces of chocolate chips plus a tablespoon or so of shortening until smooth. Drop a tablespoon of the melted chocolate on top of each mini-brownie and allow it to flow over the sides. Smooth sides with a knife. Set aside to cool. I put mine in the freezer for a few minutes.

Meanwhile combine about 6 ounces of caramel bits with a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream in a microwave dish. Microwave in 30 second increments until caramel is melted and smooth.

Drizzle caramel over brownies. Top each brownie with a pecan half.

But wait! You didn't think I was going to let you have all those brownie scraps go to waste, did you? I would never do that. (Me and myself probably would, but they're still gagged and tied up in the corner.)

Take a tablespoon-size portion of leftover brownie and mold it into a ball. Drizzle melted chocolate over each and use the spoon to smooth chocolate around the brownie. Sprinkle with whatever little sprinkles you have on hand, or drizzle with some of the leftover caramel. Enjoy!