Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (2024)

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Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

Salted caramel brownies are one of those desserts that everyone loves. They are a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and absolutely delicious. This recipe has been a fan favorite since 2016, and it’s easy to see why! In this post, we will walk you through two different methods for making these crowd-pleasing brownies. So whether you are an experienced baker or just starting out, you can make these brownies with ease. Let’s get started!

This Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe has been a fan favorite since 2016. And it has maintained its popularity over the years, because it is SO good and very easy. I’ll walk you through a couple of different ways, step-by-step, to make this crowd-pleasing dessert.

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Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (1)

Ingredients

The Entirely Homemade Version

For the Homemade Caramel Topping

  • granulated sugar
  • salted butter, cut into pieces
  • heavy cream
  • pinch of salt

Click here for the caramel recipe.

For the Brownies

  • butter
  • semi-sweet chocolate
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • flour
  • cocoa powder
  • salt
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips

Ingredient Modifications

What if I want to make these brownies gluten-free?

In that case, you can use a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose. Just make sure to check the label on your specific brand before using it in this recipe so that everything turns out perfectly!

Can I make these brownies with any kind of flour?

Yes! This recipe calls for all-purpose, but you can use whole wheat or gluten free if that’s what your heart desires. Just keep in mind that your end result may vary slightly from mine because different flours have different properties and will react differently with other ingredients.

Can I use a different type of chocolate chips in this recipe?

You can use any type of chocolate chips that you prefer. Milk, dark, or semisweet will all work well.

Can I add nuts or other ingredients like chocolate chips?

Sure. You can also substitute butter for the vegetable oil if you’d like. And feel free to add nuts, chocolate chips, or any other ingredients that you love into this recipe! As long as the brownie batter is still wet after adding them in, they will bake up just fine.

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (2)

Ingredients: The Semi-Homemade Version (My Preference)

For the Caramel Topping

For the Brownies

  • butter
  • semi-sweet chocolate
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • flour
  • cocoa powder
  • salt
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (3)

Ingredients: The Shortcut Version

For the Caramel Topping

For the Brownies

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (4)

How to Make Easy Brownies

How do you make easy brownies?

If you’re looking for a dump everything in one bowl and mix it up kind of recipe, then my super easy Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies is the perfect recipe for you. You don’t have to melt any chocolate, and there aren’t a million steps. It really is as simple as tossing all of the ingredients into the bowl and stirring!

How to Cheat: Doctoring Boxed Brownies

✔️ Top the brownie batter with pieces of cookie dough before baking to make Brookies!
✔️ Add mix-ins to the batter before baking.
✔️ Top the baked brownies with something delicious! I love using Mrs. Richardson’s caramel sauce to make this Salted Caramel Brownies recipe. It is THE BEST! I can usually find it at Target.

Questions Answered: Brownies

How do you make fudgy brownies from scratch?

The secret ingredient to a good, fudgy brownie with shiny, crackly tops is… melted chocolate.

In actuality, that’s probably oversimplifying it a bit. But if you have to narrow it down to one ingredient, I’d say that’s the one. If we’re going to break this down a little farther, there are a couple of other components you need to take into account. Here are the ingredients that affect the fudginess of a brownie:

✔️ Leavening agents. My very favorite brownie recipes don’t have any baking soda or baking powder, which limits the amount of air in the brownies (air = cake-y).

✔️ Fat-to-Flour ratio. A good, fudgy brownie needs more fat than flour. Which is why using melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder helps so much.

✔️ Chocolate chips. To achieve those beautiful, crackly tops that everyone wants in a brownie, you need to mix chocolate chips into the brownie batter. I don’t know why, but I know that it’s a must.Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (5)

Can I make these brownies ahead of time?

Yes – brownies are actually a great dessert to make ahead of time! Just bake them according to the recipe instructions, let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve. They will last for about a week in the fridge and several months in the freezer.

What is the best way to cut brownies?

Use a sharp knife and cut them into little squares. You can also use an egg slicer for this purpose if you don’t have any other tools available (just press down on each side of the square until it comes out). And don’t forget to wipe your knife off between slices!

Do I need to preheat the oven before baking these brownies?

Yes, you do! You can either turn on your oven when you start mixing together all of the ingredients or set a timer for 15 minutes and then put them in right away (this is what I did). Just make sure that the oven is fully preheated by the time you put the brownies in so they cook evenly!

What kind of pan should I use to bake these brownies?

A square baking pan (either an eight or nine inch one will work) is best for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can also use a round cake pan. Just make sure that the brownies are spread out evenly in the pan so they cook evenly.

What Did I Do Wrong?

My brownies turned out too dry – what did I do wrong?

There are a few things that could have gone wrong and resulted in dry brownies. First, if you overbaked them, then they may have come out too dry. Second, if the oven temperature was set too high then this can also cause moisture loss during baking as well. Finally, if your flour has been sitting around for a while it might not be as fresh and could contribute to dryness in baked goods like brownies. Next time, make sure to keep an eye on them and test them with a toothpick for doneness before taking them out of the oven. And if you’re not sure about your oven temperature, try using an oven thermometer to be precise.

My brownies turned out too gooey – what did I do wrong?

A few things that could have gone wrong and resulted in gooey brownies. First, if you underbaked them then they may be still wet inside. Second, if your oven temperature was set too low then this can also cause moisture loss during baking as well.

Finally, if your flour has been sitting around for a while it might not be as fresh and could contribute to gooeyness in baked goods like brownies. Next time, make sure to keep an eye on them and test them with a toothpick for doneness before taking them out of the oven. And if you’re not sure about your oven temperature, try using an oven thermometer to be precise.

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (6)

What can I do if my brownies are too dense?

If you used too much flour then they may be heavy and not as fluffy as you’d like them to be. Or, if the butter wasn’t melted completely before you added it to the batter then this could have also resulted in heavier brownies. Finally, if your oven temperature was set too high then this can also cause baked goods to become dense. Next time, make sure to follow the recipe exactly and measure your ingredients properly. And if you’re not sure about your oven temperature, try using an oven thermometer to be precise.

Brownie Adjustments

What can I do if my brownies are too salty?

There are a few things that could have gone wrong and resulted in salty brownies. First, if you used too much salt then they may be overly salty. Second, if the chocolate wasn’t sweet enough then this could also make the brownies too salty. Third, if you added too much sugar then this can also cause them to be too salty. Next time, make sure to follow the recipe exactly and measure your ingredients properly. And if you’re not sure about your sugar or salt levels, try using a kitchen scale to be precise.

What can I do if my brownies are too sweet?

There are a few things that could have gone wrong and resulted in sweet brownies. If you used too much sugar then they may be overly sweet. If the chocolate wasn’t sweet enough then this could also make the brownies too sweet. Finally, if you added too much salt then this can also cause them to be too sweet. Next time, make sure to follow the recipe exactly and measure your ingredients properly. And if you’re not sure about your sugar or salt levels, try using a kitchen scale to be precise.

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (7)

What can I do if my brownies are too light?

First, if you used too much flour then they may be heavy and not as fluffy as you’d like them to be. Second, if the butter wasn’t melted completely before you added it to the batter then this could have also resulted in light brownies. Finally, if your oven temperature was set too low then this can also cause baked goods to become light. Next time, make sure to follow the recipe exactly and measure your ingredients properly. And if you’re not sure about your oven temperature, try using an oven thermometer to be precise.

How to Store Your Brownies

You can store brownies in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. If you are storing them in the fridge, they will last for about a week. And if you are storing them in the freezer, they will last for several months. Just make sure to thaw them out before serving!ADD IMAGE

Supplies & Specialty Ingredients

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Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (8)

Salted Caramel Brownies

Yield: 9

Fudgy brownies studded with chocolate chips and topped with caramel and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • approximately 10 ounces caramel sauce
  • flaked sea salt

Instructions

Preheat to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 9x9 baking dish.

Melt together the butter and the semi sweet chocolate. Let cool slightly.

Stir in the sugar and the eggs. Mix in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spread the batter in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.

Let cool completely before topping with caramel sauce and sprinkling with sea salt.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 9Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 647Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 498mgCarbohydrates: 94gFiber: 2gSugar: 75gProtein: 7g

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I hope you enjoyed this recipe for Salted Caramel Brownies. If so, please leave me a comment below letting us know what else we should try next time – I love hearing from my readers and fans! Thanks again 🙂

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Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you use salted or unsalted butter in brownie mix? ›

Bake them in a 9×13″ pan. You may need to increase the baking time slightly, however I recommend checking it at 25 minutes to be sure they don't over bake. Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too, you may just need to adjust the amount of sea salt in the recipe.

Should I add salt to brownie mix? ›

Salt enhances the sweetness in your brownies. You might think that adding salt would make brownies, or any chocolate, salter, but it actually brings out the sweet quality in these types of desserts. Sprinkle it in the batter or add flaky sea salt to the top of the brownies after removing them from the oven.

How to improve Betty Crocker box brownies? ›

6 Easy Ways to Make Boxed Brownies Better
  1. Get nutty.
  2. Add a hint of salt.
  3. Experiment with extracts.
  4. Swap Fats.
  5. Throw in something decadent.
  6. Add a Swirl.
Jan 10, 2017

Why do my brownies taste chewy? ›

The molasses content in brown sugar is what is responsible for chewy yet soft brownies. If you don't want chewy brownies, completely keep brown sugar out of the picture. If you do want chewy brownies and it's not mentioned in your recipe, add 3-4 tbsp of brown sugar in the end for beautifully chewy brownies!

What happens if you accidentally use salted butter in brownies? ›

If you are using salted butter in a brownie mix, the brownies will probably taste a little too salty, because salt has already been added to the dry mix.

What happens if you use salted butter instead of unsalted in baking? ›

If you're baking and swapping in salted butter, the excess water from salted butter may make more of an impact. This is because extra water can have an effect on how gluten reacts and forms within dough. Consider slightly lessening any additional water the recipe may call for.

Is it better to use milk or water in brownie mix? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

How to doctor up box brownies? ›

Boxed brownies can be their own blank slate for just about any snacks, sweets, or baking scraps you've got in your pantry or fridge. Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder. Throw in a handful of nuts—pecans, walnuts, macadamia, whatever you have on hand. Scoop in a palmful of dried or frozen fruit.

What happens if you forget salt in brownies? ›

A comment on Reddit pretty much sums up what the simple addition of salt can do to your brownies: "Salt on sweets won't necessarily be missed if you forget it but it makes things great when it's included." Per The Kitchn, salt will help balance the taste of your homemade brownies as well as amp up the flavors of the ...

What happens when you add an extra egg to brownie mix? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

Is Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker better for brownie mix? ›

If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.

Why did my box brownies turn out like cake? ›

The aeration agent or leavening agent as it's often called helps trap air in the batter structure and hence results in the cakey brownie style.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

What happens if there's too much butter in brownies? ›

The more you add, the more moist and fluffy it gets. However, at a certain point, you might increase the amount of butter so much that the cake starts becoming dense again and begin to fall into itself—eventually getting closer to the texture of a greasy brownie instead.

What happens if you add too much flour to brownies? ›

Too much flour? Go back to your edges - if they're not burnt, look a good colour (similar to the centre) but the brownie is too cakey and dry throughout, the recipe probably included too much flour.

Why use unsalted butter in brownies? ›

Unsalted butter gives you complete control of the overall flavor of your recipe. This is especially important in certain baked goods where the pure, sweet cream flavor of butter is key (butter cookies or pound cakes). As it pertains to cooking, unsalted butter lets the real, natural flavor of your foods come through.

Should you use salted or unsalted butter for box cake mix? ›

Melted butter serves the same purpose as oil, while also adding richness and depth to the cake. Unsalted butter is the best choice, unless you have a salt tooth, like me, and prefer desserts with a little extra salt to balance out the sweetness. In that case, you can use salted butter.

Do you use salted or unsalted butter for Betty Crocker cookie mix? ›

Rule of thumb number one: stick to unsalted butter when baking. We prefer butter over margarine for most baking needs—like pastry crusts, shortbread, and sugar cookies—because the high water content and low fat levels of margarine provides poor results.

Do you use salted or unsalted butter for baking edibles? ›

If you do want to make weed butter, we recommend using unsalted butter so you're able to control the salt level of the final product. The longer the melted butter and cannabis simmer together, the more potent your cannabutter will be.

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