Caramel Brownies Recipe for Gooey Sweetness

Sweet memories of childhood weekends always flood back when I whip up these decadent caramel brownies.

Rich chocolate mingles with golden caramel in a symphony of flavor that melts hearts instantly.

Each bite promises pure indulgence without complicated techniques.

Home bakers can master this recipe with simple ingredients found in most pantries.

Gooey centers and crisp edges create a textural dance that delights every palate.

Warm from the oven, these brownies invite you to savor a moment of pure bliss.

Grab a glass of cold milk and treat yourself to something extraordinary.

What Makes Caramel Brownies Special

• Perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, and satisfying sweet tooth cravings with its irresistible combination of chocolate and caramel.
• Delivers rich, gooey texture with a decadent caramel swirl that transforms ordinary brownies into an extraordinary dessert experience.
• Suitable for both novice and experienced bakers, offering a forgiving recipe that produces impressive results every single time.

Ingredients That Bring Caramel Brownies to Life

• Butter: Rich base for brownie texture and flavor.
• Eggs: Binding agent for moist and dense brownies.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall sweet flavor profile.

• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provides deep sweetness and caramelization.
• Caramel Candies: Creates gooey, rich caramel layers.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds smooth, creamy caramel consistency.

• Cocoa Powder: Delivers intense chocolate flavor.
• Flour: Provides structure for brownie base.
• Chocolate Chips: Adds extra chocolate texture and pockets of melted chocolate.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor.

How to Make Caramel Brownies from Scratch

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Preheat oven to 350F. Grab an 8×8-inch baking pan. Line it with parchment paper, letting edges hang over sides for easy removal. Lightly grease the paper.

Step 2: Create Decadent Batter

• Melted butter
• Cocoa powder
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Salt

Whisk everything until silky smooth. Gently fold in flour and chocolate chips, avoiding overmixing.

Step 3: Craft Caramel Layer

• Sweetened condensed milk
• Caramel candies
• Pinch of salt

Stir continuously over medium-low heat until caramels completely melt and mixture becomes glossy.

Step 4: Assemble Delightful Layers

Pour half the brownie batter into prepared pan. Spread evenly. Drizzle most of the caramel sauce across batter. Top with remaining brownie batter, creating swirled pattern.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide pan into preheated oven. Bake 35-45 minutes until center looks slightly fudgy when tested with toothpick.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Let brownies rest in pan until completely cool. Drizzle remaining caramel on top. Lift out using parchment edges. Slice into squares. Serve and savor every rich, gooey bite.

Handy Tips for Mastering Caramel Brownies

• Melt Caramels Smoothly: Use low heat and stir constantly to prevent burning, ensuring a silky, creamy caramel layer without scorching.
• Prevent Overflow: Leave some space in the baking pan to accommodate brownie rising and caramel expansion during baking to avoid messy spillovers.
• Check Doneness Carefully: Insert a toothpick at an angle near the center, looking for moist crumbs instead of wet batter to achieve perfectly fudgy brownies.
• Control Sweetness Level: Reduce sugar slightly if using sweetened caramel candies to balance overall dessert sweetness and prevent overwhelming sugary taste.
• Line Pan Perfectly: Use parchment paper with overhanging sides for easy brownie removal and clean, precise cutting of squares without sticking.

Best Way to Keep Caramel Brownies Fresh

• Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap each brownie individually in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
• Place brownies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm refrigerated brownies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300F for 5-7 minutes. This helps restore their soft, gooey texture and brings out the caramel's rich flavor.
• Let frozen or refrigerated brownies sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to enhance their taste and texture.

Tasty Matches for Your Caramel Brownies

• Serve alongside a rich espresso or dark roast coffee to complement the deep chocolate and caramel notes, creating a luxurious dessert moment that amplifies the brownie's sweetness.
• Match with a cold glass of whole milk or a creamy vanilla bean milkshake, which cuts through the richness and provides a smooth, refreshing counterpoint to the dense chocolate texture.
• Accompany with a scoop of sea salt caramel ice cream or vanilla bean gelato, allowing the cold, creamy element to mingle with the warm, gooey brownie for a sensational taste experience.
• Consider a tawny port wine or a sweet dessert moscato, whose subtle sweetness and mild alcohol content beautifully complement the caramel and chocolate complexity.

Fun Twists on Classic Caramel Brownies

• Vegan Caramel Delight: Replace butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, swap chocolate chips for dairy-free dark chocolate chunks, and create caramel sauce using coconut milk and maple syrup.
• Gluten-Free Caramel Squares: Substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free baking mix, use certified gluten-free chocolate chips, and ensure caramel candies are gluten-free.
• Low-Sugar Caramel Treat: Replace sugar with monk fruit sweetener, use sugar-free caramel sauce, incorporate dark chocolate with higher cocoa content, and reduce overall sweetness while maintaining rich flavor.
• Nutty Caramel Crunch: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the brownie batter, sprinkle toasted nuts on top, incorporate nut butter into caramel layer, and enhance texture with crunchy elements.

Caramel Brownies Q&A Corner

• What type of caramels work best for this recipe?

Kraft or Werther’s Original caramels are ideal. Soft, classic caramel squares melt smoothly and provide the best texture and flavor for these brownies.

• Can I use cocoa powder instead of melted chocolate?

Yes, this recipe uses cocoa powder instead of melted chocolate. The cocoa powder provides rich chocolate flavor and helps create a dense, fudgy brownie texture.

• How do I know when the brownies are perfectly baked?

Look for a toothpick with a few moist crumbs when inserted into the center. The edges should be slightly pulled away from the pan sides, and the top should look set but not completely dry.

• Can I make these brownies gluten-free?

Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free, and the results should be very similar to the original recipe.

Caramel Brownies Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate Caramel Brownies blend gooey caramel swirls with deep cocoa intensity, creating a sinful dessert that melts in your mouth. Chocolate lovers will crave this indulgent treat that promises pure dessert bliss.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup (200 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (170 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Chocolate and Sugar Components:

• ¾ cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (220 grams) light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar

Flavor and Caramel Enhancers:

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 can (14 ounces/397 grams) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 package (11 ounces/312 grams) caramel candies, unwrapped

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking vessel by thoroughly greasing an 8×8-inch pan and lining it with parchment paper, ensuring excess paper hangs over the edges for effortless removal.
2. Create the rich chocolate base by whisking melted butter and cocoa powder until achieving a silky, uniform texture.
3. Incorporate brown and granulated sugars into the butter mixture, then blend in eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until the ingredients harmonize smoothly.
4. Gently fold flour and chocolate chips into the batter, being careful not to overmix and maintain a luxurious, velvety consistency.
5. Distribute half the brownie batter evenly across the prepared pan, creating a foundational layer.
6. Craft the caramel sauce by gently heating sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan, stirring consistently to prevent scorching.
7. Introduce caramel candies and a pinch of salt to the warm milk, continuously stirring until the mixture transforms into a glossy, molten liquid.
8. Cascade approximately two-thirds of the caramel sauce over the initial brownie layer, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
9. Delicately spoon remaining brownie batter across the caramel, using a gentle spreading technique to create an attractive marbled effect.
10. Slide the pan into a preheated 350°F oven, allowing the brownies to bake for 35-45 minutes until a inserted toothpick reveals slightly moist crumbs.
11. Remove from oven and permit complete cooling on a wire rack, which helps set the texture and intensify flavors.
12. Embellish the cooled brownies with the reserved caramel drizzle, then lift from the pan using parchment edges and slice into decadent squares.

Notes

• Experiment with caramel candies by choosing soft varieties like Werther’s Original for smoother, richer texture.
• Ensure even caramel distribution by using a silicone spatula to spread layers gently without disturbing previous layers.
• Prevent over-baking by checking brownies slightly earlier than recommended time, looking for moist crumbs on toothpick.
• Adapt recipe for gluten-free diets by substituting all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free blend, maintaining similar consistency.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg