Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

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.

Related Recipes:

Better Than Box Mix Brownies
Milk Chocolate Toffee Brownie Recipe
Oprah’s Favorite Brownies

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?

Yes, 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.

Ingredients: The Semi-Homemade Version (My Preference)

For the Caramel Topping

Mrs. Richardon’s Caramel Sauce

For the Brownies

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

Ingredients: The Shortcut Version

For the Caramel Topping

Mrs. Richardon’s Caramel Sauce

For the Brownies

Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix
ingredients as listed on the box

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

[shop-page-wp id=’25894,25840,25597,24951,24935,25898′]

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

Oreo Brownies with Vanilla Buttercream

Mummy Brownies

Ganache Brownies

Nutella Brownies

Snickers Brownies

Thin Mint Brownies

Oreo Cream Brownies

Cheesecake Brownies

Lunch Lady Brownies

Super Fudge Brownies

Fudgy Frosted Brownies

Chocolate Mint Brownies

Browned Butter Brownies

Spooky Bat Oreo Brownies

Oprah's Favorite Brownies

Cadbury Cream Egg Brownies

Slow Cooker S'mores Brownies

Better than Box Mix Brownies Recipe

3-Ingredient Nutella Brownies

Milk Chocolate Toffee Brownies

Browned Butter Red Velvet Brownies

"Edges Only" Caramel Filled Brownies

My Favorite Things Giveaway: Brownies Edition

Hot Fudge Swirled Red Velvet Brownies

Chocolate Frosting Recipe for Brownies or Sheet Cake

Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Reese's Brownies

Chocolate Caramel Covered Potato Chip Brownies: the Perfect Picnic Pairing with Kettle Brand Chips

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 🙂

Substitute for Egg in Cake Mix Box: How to Bake Egg-Free Cakes
French Tart Recipe: Classic Apple or Berry Pastry with Cream
How Long Does Lemon Last in the Fridge? Tips to Store Lemons
Irish Tea Cake Recipe: Simple, Delicate, Delicious

FAQs

What happens if you don't add salt to brownies? ›

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.

Keep Reading ›

Why add water to brownie mix? ›

If you prefer not to use vanilla, add an equivalent amount of water: cocoa is very dry and without some extra liquid, your brownies will be dry. These additions add deep flavor. They also help cut the over-sweetness of boxed mixes.

Show Me More ›

How to make box brownie mix better? ›

When the back-of-box instructions call for water, try some instant espresso or strong-brewed coffee for roasty, toasty notes that pair impeccably with chocolate. Or use milk or half-and-half for even more richness. And for cakey instead of fudgy brownies, add an extra egg for more lift and spring.

See Details ›

Should you put salt on top of brownies? ›

Brownies have a deep chocolate fudge flavor and salt enhances that flavor. Think about all those dark chocolate with sea salt candies that are so popular!

Show Me More ›

What happens if you leave salt out of a baking recipe? ›

If you forgot the salt, your dough will rise too quickly, and your bread will taste bland.

Learn More ›

What happens when you bake without salt? ›

Keep the salt for better texture, flavor, and crust. Generally, we advise bakers to not leave out salt entirely when making bread. Not only will your dough be slack and difficult to work with (the worst!), but the baked loaf will turn out bland and flavorless.

Read On ›

What happens if 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.

Show Me More ›

What does adding milk instead of water do to brownies? ›

Brownie recipes traditionally call for water as it serves as a neutral liquid that hydrates the dry ingredients. However, using milk instead of water can impart a creamier texture and richer flavor to your brownies. The milk's fat content adds a smoothness that water cannot provide, resulting in a more indulgent treat.

Tell Me More ›

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

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 much butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

Replacing Oil with Butter

It couldn't be easier to substitute butter for oil using a 1:1 ratio. This should work with olive, canola, vegetable, and coconut oils. Simply melt and cool the butter to room temperature, then continue with your recipe. (If the recipe calls for ½ cup oil, use ½ cup melted and cooled butter.)

Learn More Now ›

What does butter do in brownies? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier. they were crunchier at the top and at the edges.

See Details ›

Why do you melt butter for brownies? ›

The reason we melt butter in brownie recipes instead of beating room temperature butter with sugar is because that helps give a rich, chewy, fudgy texture. Beating butter incorporates air and gives a more light, airy, cakey texture, which we don't want in a brownie. Well, you might want that, but I don't!

Tell Me More ›

What is the purpose of salt in brownies? ›

Salt enhances and balances flavors, especially sweetness. The proper amount of salt can take a mediocre recipe and make it outstanding. You will notice that all professional kitchens and bakeries use salt in their baked goods.

See Details ›

What does salt do to brownies? ›

After adding sugar and the fat from the butter/egg, some freshly-cracked sea salt helps you impress people (adding a subtle fancy touch) while also drawing out more of the flavor from a recipe that is otherwise a 3rd grader's homework assignment.

Keep Reading ›

Should I use salted or unsalted for brownies? ›

Baking recipes typically call for unsalted butter because the amount of salt in salted butter varies depending on the brand – there is no “industry standard.” For example, if you use one brand of salted butter in a recipe, and we use another, our baked goods could end up tasting very different from one other.

Does salt matter in baking? ›

In baking, salt not only enhances flavors but can also perform other functions like strengthen the gluten structure in bread dough.

Read On ›

Does salt affect baking? ›

Salt assists in oven browning by controlling the fermentation and therefore lessening the destruction of sugar. Salt checks the development of any undesirable or excessive acidity in the dough.

Show Me More ›