You might be tempted to keep such a decadent dessert all to yourself, but caramel brownies are a quintessential crowd-pleaser! Make a few batches to share as Valentine’s gifts for the loved ones in your life, package them for a bake sale or serve them up at a birthday party. Who says cake gets to have all the fun?
How to Make Caramel Brownies
Follow the basic guidelines below and you will have a rich, fudgy brownie with caramel in every bite!
Make homemade caramel sauce and let it cool. The batter will be thick, that’s how you want it. Dot the top of the batter with caramel.Swirl the brownie and caramel together. Let the brownies cool to room temperature before slicing.Once baked, drizzle with extra caramel and sprinkle with sea salt.
How to Use Up Leftover Caramel Sauce
I used my favorite homemade caramel sauce recipe from the site for these brownies because it’s the perfect buttery sweetness for my tastes. If you’ve never made caramel sauce from scratch before don’t worry! Making it is easier than you think. The trick is to have all of your ingredients nearby and use a pot that’s larger than you think you’ll need because the sauce will bubble up and expand. If you’re pressed for time, or don’t want to make it from scratch use a good quality store bought version. Mrs. Richardson’s is a favorite and the closest I’ve found to homemade. Either way you will have more caramel than is required for the recipe, but really, who doesn’t need more caramel in their lives? To use up leftover caramel:
Spoon it over ice creamDrizzle it over cakes or piesDip apple slices in it Eat it by the spoonful
Swaps and Substitutions
This recipe is incredibly flexible. You can swap the chocolate, the cocoa and even the caramel sauce.
If you don’t have unsweetened baking chocolate, then use what you have on hand, but reduce the sugar in the recipe by 1 tablespoon.Use either Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder or Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. Both will work just fine in this recipe.Don’t have time to make your own caramel sauce? Then sub it with a high quality store bought caramel sauce.
How to Dress Up Caramel Brownies
You can add something extra to both the caramel and the brownie.
To make salted caramel sauce: Add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the caramel before chilling. For the brownie batter: Add half cup toasted pecans or if you want an over the top chocolate experience add a half cup chocolate chips.
Make Ahead
Caramel Brownies are the perfect make ahead dessert. The caramel sauce can be made up to two weeks in advance and stored in the fridge.
To store the brownies: Keep them covered on your counter for 3 or 4 days or up to one week in the refrigerator. To freeze the brownies: The brownies can be frozen for up to three months, but the texture of the caramel may not be as creamy as before freezing.
How to Enjoy Caramel Brownies
To serve Caramel Brownies in an even more spectacular presentation, try them in a brownie sundae! Place a brownie in a dish and top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzle with warm caramel sauce. For the finishing touches add whipped cream, sugared pecans, chocolate sprinkles, and, of course, a cherry on top.
More Crave-Worthy Brownie Recipes
Fudgy Chocolate Brownies Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies Best Chocolate Brownies Fudgy Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Brookies (Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies)
Make a parchment sling by lining the pan with parchment paper and leaving an inch overhang on either side. This will make it easier to remove the brownies from the pan. Spray parchment and set aside. Using a spoon create nine dollops of caramel evenly over the top of the brownie. I prefer to dip my spoon slightly below the surface of the brownie when adding the caramel just to incorporated it a little better. When baked, the center stays very soft but shouldn’t be wet to the touch. The caramel will look melted and not very visible, but don’t worry, it will firm up as it cools. If you have a glass baking dish, you may need to add 10 to 15 minute to the cook time.
