Easy Caramel Brownies
My favorite, easy caramel brownies were given a facelift. Truly a decadent, to-die-for dessert, made with a homemade brownie recipe!
These Homemade Caramel Brownies are even more heavenly than a similar recipe made with a boxed cake mix!
The Best Brownie Recipe with Caramel
I have made caramel brownies totally from scratch and they were fabulous. But most people, including me, would prefer not to mess with making homemade caramel. If it doesn’t get to the perfect temperature, it will ooze out of the brownies and turn your brownies into brownies with caramel sauce! So taking the shortcut of melting packaged caramels with some cream is a heck of a lot more reliable, not to mention easier. That’s what makes these brownies the best.
Easy Caramel Brownies
It was back in 2011 when I spotted a vaguely familiar recipe for homemade brownies with a caramel filling. It was my favorite caramel brownies (hooray!), sans nuts (hooray!), made with homemade brownies vs. a cake mix (hip, hip hooray!). I immediately copied the recipe, bought some caramels, and I was ready to go! These got rave reviews all around. Even the hubby, who’s not as enamored with caramel as I am, offered high praise. Try these Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints, too!
How Long Do Brownies from Scratch Last?
Not long at my house, but seriously, they can sit out on the counter in an airtight container for about 3 days, then I like to either park them in the refrigerator for a couple more days or place them in the freezer for up to 3 months. My husband keeps track of any brownies in our freezer and will bring one out at the start of dinner so he can have one for dessert.
How Should You Store Homemade Brownies?
To maintain freshness, store your brownies in an airtight container, with a piece of wax or parchment paper between each layer.
Can You Freeze Brownies?
Brownies freeze wonderfully. Either freeze brownies already cut, or freeze the whole slab of brownies. Just wrap well to prevent freezer burn with plastic wrap, then foil. Alternatively, place the cut brownies in an airtight container with parchment between any layers. Defrost your brownies at room temperature a few hours before serving. There are some gourmet brownies that could sweat a little when defrosted, like those with a cream cheese swirl. They’ll still taste great, but maybe not look as perfect as if never frozen.
How Do You Slice Brownies?
I find homemade brownies nicely if they are chilled first. Use a heated, dry knife to help glide through the cold brownies to make a clean cut. Wipe off the knife and reheat if needed between slices. If you want perfect squares, break out the ruler and make marks along the edges to mark where you want to cut. With an 8 x 8-inch pan, I make marks along the sides at two-inch intervals which help guide slicing 16 2 x 2-inch brownies.
Note that when the brownies are loaded with nuts, chocolate chips, etc., it will be more difficult to slice perfectly. Try using a serrated knife to saw through the brownies if needed.
If you love the chocolate caramel combo in these easy caramel brownies, try my Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints, too!
More Brownies from Scratch You’ll Love:
- The Best Brownies in the World from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Rich Frosted Brownies
- Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
- Simple Fudgy Brownies
- Truffle Brownies
- More Homemade Brownie Recipes
Caramel Chocolate Brownies Recipe
A from-scratch version of the famous caramel-filled brownies made with a box cake mix!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 ยฝ cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 ยผ cups flour
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 14-ounce bag of caramels, unwrapped (I prefer Werther's Chewy Caramels over other brands. You may need 2 bags to get 14 ounces)
- โ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line 9 x 13 pan with non-stick foil or regular foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Melt butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, using 30-second increments, stirring each time till smooth.
- Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla and whisk till well incorporated. Stir in flour and salt.
- Spread half the batter over the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
- Melt caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl, using 30-second increments, checking and stirring each time till smooth.
- While still warm, pour caramel over the top of the brownies and spread to cover. If the caramel has cooled, gently reheat it in the microwave.
- Top with remaining brownie batter by dropping tablespoons of batter across the caramel then spread to the edges. If the batter has become stiff, very gently reheat it in the microwave. Sprinkle the top of the brownies with chocolate chips and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely, then use foil to remove the brownies from the pan. Cut and serve.
Notes
!Adapted from The Pastry Queen via Tracey's Culinary Adventures
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 brownieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 331Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 161mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 1gSugar: 35gProtein: 4g
49 Comments on “Easy Caramel Brownies”
How could one possibly resist? ๐
Those look yummy! I love chocolate and caramel together – I must make these. Thanks for sharing!
Look at that awesome layer of caramel! It looks perfect. No wonder these got rave reviews!
What a thrill it would be to bite into those.
Why haven’t I ever had caramel brownies?! I know I need to remedy that soon … or I will just continue to drool over your photos. Delish!
Mmmm, one of my favorite combinations!! I’d choose caramel over chocolate any day. Now, I need an excuse to bake these ๐ Kate @kateiscooking
Oh yum, yours look amazing Lizzy! I heated one of these brownies up and topped with vanilla ice cream for dessert WAY too many nights in a row ๐
As my mom used to say, “this is the kind of stuff that sets your teeth on edge!”
Liz, you are the QUEEN of brownies! It’s official!
the less chocolate I’m trying to eat the more chocolate goodness I see on your blog. These brownies sound way to good for me to resist. Oh, I so want one right now!!
Lizzy, the enticing aromas are making their way here with these gorgeous photos! Wonderful recipe – another chocolate masterpiece (100 still approaching fast!)
I love these caramel brownies! delicious! gloria
Oh my do these brownies look soooo good! I love the caramel layer in the middle of the brownies. ๐
mmm those brownies looks great!
I love this brownie recipe! They look simply terrific!
Fabulous! I have never heard of the brownie mix version, but this looks really great. I love caramel and chocolate.
How absolutely fabulous Lizzy!!! Caramel brownies sound sinfully divine! ๐ Yum-o!
xx,
Tammy
Oh ok… I am officially creating a sub-folder called “Lizzy” in my “Must try Recipes” folder! Ahhhh I cannot resist these brownies!!!!
Thank you, all! Your kind words are what keep me blogging…you’re the BEST!
I love the layers, caramel with brownies is my favorite!
Wonderful recipe and beautiful pics Lizzy! Brava!
Yum yum yum!! I am a big caramel lover and combined with chocolate brownies!! Yes please!
Caramel brownies are the best! Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Yay! I’m glad that you and these heavenly brownies were reunited! They look great!
I am pretty sure you made these with me in mind right? I mean hello…it is everything I love! YUM!
Nice My wife would love these!! Thanks for sharing this brownie recipe ๐
I can just imagine how popular these would be… absolutely delicious!
How tempting!
Chocolate alone makes me happy. But pair it with caramel and I’m downright giddy!
I love these! Have you ever thought of making your own brownie bar? I’ve just looked through your tagged brownie posts and it’s really hard now to focus on numbers and work stuff. Mmmh!
I found your blog by turning to the web.
I want to congratulate you for the quality of your blog, recipes, photos and all the interesting content you offer.
I addition to your followers are contracting, so you do not lose sight of.
If you like going from my blog, you’re welcome.
My blog is in Italian, but there is a translator.
The magic pumpkin.
bye
Oh these look delicious! I am trying to talk myself out of baking something today, and you are not helping ๐
More brownies! I’ve never made the ones with the German chocolate cake mix, because I try to avoid cake mixes. These look amazing. And I’m a caramel addict, so I’m feeling a need to try these.
I know a lot of folks who donโt eat eggs (theyโre allergic, for health reasons, or concerns about animal cruelty). Hereโs an awesome site that gives tips on cooking and baking without eggs: http://EggFreeLiving.com
I may be the only one who has never tasted brownies from a German chocolate cake mix. So sad and I know I’m missing out. Your brownies are killing me. Can you hear my stomach crying out for one ? ๐
Lizzy, lizzy, lizzy. Oh boy. Girlfriend, your blog should be called death by chocolate..lol. Love these and I have a friend who is about 7 months pregnant and she is craving brownies right now. Got this one printed!!
Say Hi to your new follower!!!
These brownies look yum
thesaji.blogspot.com
I would prefer to eat these side by wide with the Kahlua one!
Yep, these are definitely insulin worthy! Although, sorry for the nut allergy, I’ll add nuts to mine. ๐
I can’t wait to try these, a co workers birthday is Monday and she will go nuts for these, they look fabulous! thanks Lizzy they just look fantastic, will let you know how they like them!
Those are amazing brownies Lizzy … I am drooling!
Lizzy , you are amazing! Just like all these wonderful things that you are baking! ๐ I really admire you ๐
My goodness! Your blog is making me drool! I love goooey brownies!
What are you trying to do to my willpower? Haha! Two brownie recipes. My Achilles heel. Sigh. Agreed with Brandie. So many chocolate recipes and I can’t get enough. I want to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style lick my screen right now. Haha! Yummy!
Ohhh this looks so rich and delicious!
http://pinchofthisthatandtheother.blogspot.com
oh boy! they look perfect! and I agreee with Belinda, ice cream would be wonderful with them!
Belinda is right… I would love to eat this with GOOD vanila ice cream… Delicious. You are always baking!! ๐
That looks soo delicious:-)Its a true delight to choco lovers like me..
I now have a great excuse to buy a bag of those caramels. Haven’t in years…these look wonderful!
I am imagining this and ice cream.