These Salted Caramel Brownies are sure to become your new favorite sweet and salty dessert. Soft brownies topped with pretzels, gooey caramel, and chocolate is always a good idea.
Salted Caramel Brownies
Salted Caramel takes me down every.single.time!!! I have no self control when there is a sweet and salty drink or dessert around. Anything sweet and salty or chocolate and peanut butter is my kryptonite. I can't resist it at all.
A few years ago Starbucks came out with a salted caramel brownie pop! Yes, it is as fabulous as it sounds. And yes, I paid the 1.50 price for one little brownie pop when I saw them! I justified it by calling it research. LOL!
I was inspired to bake these salted caramel brownies with pretzels because of those little brownie pops. These sweet and salty brownies are my favorite dessert at the moment. Here is why we love them.
- Made from a box mix.
- A thick layer of gooey salted caramel.
- Chocolate Topping.
- Pretzels and Sea Salt
- White chocolate drizzles.
Ingredients Needed
Using a box brownie mix makes these caramel brownies come together a little quicker.
- Brownie Mix - Make sure you buy a mix that is for a 9x13 pan size.
- Caramel Baking Bits - I like to use the little caramel bits because they melt faster.
- Heavy Cream - Helps to thin out the caramel and chocolate toppings.
- Pretzels - Small twists or sticks are best for breaking into pieces for the topping.
- Chocolate Chips - you can use milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips for these brownies.
- White Chocolate Melts - A little bit drizzled on top makes the brownies look like they came from a bakery.
- Sea Salt - Adds a great salty flavor to the sweet brownies.
How to make Salted Caramel Brownies
One bite of these fudgy chocolate brownies topped with gooey caramel, salty pretzels, and more chocolate and you will never want plain brownies again. Trust me...they are that good.
- Bake and cool a pan of brownies. Feel free to use a box brownie mix or make a double batch of these Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies. Either one works and will taste amazing.
- Heat a bag of caramels or caramel bits and heavy cream in a pan over low-medium heat until it is melted and creamy.
- Stir pretzels pieces into the caramel and spread it on top of the cooled brownies. Let set for a few minutes.
- Heat chocolate chips and heavy cream in the microwave for 60 seconds.
- Stir until melted and creamy, then spread evenly on top of the brownies.
- Press itty bitty pretzels into the chocolate and let it set.
- Drizzle white chocolate melts across the pan of brownies and sprinkle with coarse ground sea salt.
- Let the chocolate set before cutting into squares.
More Salted Caramel Recipes
- Salted Caramel Brownie Cupcakes
- Caramel Bites
- Salted Caramel Frosting
- Salted Caramel Latte
- Caramel Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Cookie Bark
Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe
These Salted Caramel Brownies are sure to become your new favorite sweet and salty dessert. Soft brownies topped with pretzels, gooey caramel, and chocolate is never a bad idea.
Ingredients
- 1 - 9x13 box brownie mix
- 1 - 11 ounce bag caramel baking bits
- ½ cup heavy cream + 2 ½ Tablespoons, divided
- 1 ½ cups pretzel pieces + more whole itty bitty pretzels for on top
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup white chocolate melts
- coarse ground sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Make the brownies according to the package. Bake and cool.
- In a small pan heat the bag of caramel bits and 2 ½ Tablespoons heavy cream over low-medium heat. Stir until melted and creamy.
- Stir the pretzel pieces into the caramel and spread it immediately on top of the cooled brownies. Let set.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, stir together the chocolate chips and ½ cup heavy cream. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Heat another 30 seconds and stir until melted and creamy.
- Spread the melted chocolate on top of the brownies. Press the whole itty bitty pretzels into the chocolate and let set.
- Melt the white chocolate melts according to the package directions. Spoon into a ziplock bag and cut one tip off. Drizzle over the top of the brownies and sprinkle with sea salt. Let set.
Notes
*You can adjust the amount of sea salt to your liking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 111Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 129mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Salted Caramel Brownies was first published on October 10, 2012. The photos and post have been updated and republished on February 3, 2020.
Kelley
This sounds wonderful quick question is it alright to use butter instead of shortening?
Jocelyn
Yes, you can use butter instead if you like. It's just to thin the chocolate out so it can be drizzled on top. You could also use good quality chocolate melts instead if you like.
Bella Hardy
Wow! This salted caramel brownies recipe is incredible! I'm seriously so inspired right now. I need to add cinnamon to the recipe and it would be perfect. Thx for sharing!
Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky
Love your salted caramel brownies recipe. I'll definitely try it, but instead of 2 Tbsp. sea salt i would use 1! I'm also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Can i post it on my blog?
Jocelyn Brubaker
The caramel from the milk duds will harden and become quite chewy. I usually cut them while slightly warm and place them in a wax paper lined tray, so they can't harden on the pan. You could also use a softer caramel candy such as the caramel filled Kisses or caramel Milky Ways. As for the middle not being done, you might need to bake them a minute or 2 longer. Every oven is different, and I also tend to under bake my brownies because I like them that way. I hope that helps!
Sinea Pies
Wow wow WOW! This has EVERYTHING that I LOVE in a dessert.
Thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
Sinea
Tanya Schroeder
I can totally skip the brownie pop if it means I can get these in by belly more quickly! I can get these in my belly! Love how quick these come together and they look so pretty too!!! And just for the record, I am done with pumpkin too! Thanks for linking up to Iron Chef Mom!
Jocelyn
These were definitely so much fast than rolling and dipping. Love saving time that way!!! And I am glad to know others are ready to move on to other flavors:-) Although I have regressed and started the pumpkin back up again!!!
Joan Hayes
OMG, don't you love those caramel baking bits! I was using them the other day and found I had eaten half the bag! Good thing I had a back up bag in the cabinet. Cause everybody needs backup! Ok so the quote isn't meant for baking bits but too bad. Now you can name that movie, and if you can, I just know your head is the same place mine has been for almost 20 years! Boy did I get off track, it's these brownies, making me light headed and not able to think straight. I did want to let you know I'm featuring them this week at Thursday's Treasures. Thanks for sharing and of course I pinned 🙂
Jocelyn
I do love those caramel baking bits...I usually eat way too many handfuls when I am baking:-)
Betty@SouthernGrace
OOoooo you had me at caramel and sea salt...and brownies..lol. Must try!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
WOW! These look incredible! I will forgo pumpkin every day for these!
Jocelyn
I don't give up pumpkin very easily, but for salted caramel I will:-)
The CSI Girl
I would love if you shared this on the CSI Project this week. The challenge is fall food and this is perfect. You can come by everyday for a new tutorial/recipe and then on Wednesday night you can link up. You just might win the challenge and there is a giveaway.
Jen
These look phenomenal, I am totally trying them out!!
Amanda
Oh wow. I think I just gained like 5lbs just looking at this post... Salted caramel AND brownies? I'm in heaven!!
I would love it if you would link up at Martha Mondays, open now through Wednesday night!
Britni @ Hubby Made Me
YUM! Why can't we be neighbors? Actually no, I take that back. I would gain so much more weight if I had access to your delicious treats.
Amanda Kuzak
Yum, these looks SO GOOD!
Becca Acker
Oh my, these look DELICIOUS!! Found your yummy recipe via Tatertots and Jello.
ahumblebumble.blogspot.com
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
How yummy are these?!!! I have to admit I am in love with salted caramel also!!! I know how you feel about having to do things too early and by the time the season rolls around you are like I am so over that! But I don't think you could ever get tired of these!
Jocelyn
I guess those are the downfalls of being a food blogger...but I am up for that challenge! LOL! And no you could never get tired of these!!!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
Salted caramel has to be one of the best combos ever! And you know how I LOVE pumpkin, but I'm just about ready to break out the peppermints for Christmas baking. Is it too early? Ugh, why can't I just live in the moment??? These brownies look amazing, Jocelyn!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
These look totally amazing! We seem to finally be cooling down here in Sacramento - out of the 90s at least 😉 I wanted to invite you to the Iron Chef Mom - Chocolate Edition linky party going on now!