Buttery Barefoot Contessa’s Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

Indulgence takes on a whole new meaning with these luscious salted caramel brownies that dance between decadent chocolate and silky caramel.

Rich, fudgy layers melt together in a symphony of pure dessert bliss.

The Barefoot Contessa salted caramel brownies recipe promises an irresistible treat that elevates any gathering.

Deep cocoa notes blend seamlessly with golden caramel swirls, creating a dessert that’s both sophisticated and comforting.

Generous sea salt crystals add a delightful crunch and complexity to each divine bite.

The balance of sweet and salty makes these brownies impossible to resist.

You’ll want to savor every single morsel of this incredible chocolate masterpiece.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 390 kcal

Servings: 16

Salted Caramel Brownies – What You’ll Need

• Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Provides rich, deep chocolate flavor and creates a smooth, luxurious texture for the brownies.
• Unsweetened Chocolate: Intensifies the chocolate depth and adds complexity to the overall taste profile.

• Eggs: Crucial for structure, helping bind ingredients and creating a fudgy, dense brownie texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender, moist brownie with perfect crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the chocolate flavor and adds subtle aromatic complexity.
• Instant Coffee Granules: Enhances chocolate's richness without adding coffee taste.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides necessary structure and helps absorb moisture in the brownie batter.
• Baking Powder: Ensures a slight lift and prevents the brownies from becoming too dense.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies overall flavor profile.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Adds a dramatic flavor contrast and elegant finishing touch.

• Caramel Sauce: Creates a luxurious, gooey layer that complements the intense chocolate base.
• Additional Chocolate Chips: Provides extra chocolate bursts and textural interest throughout the brownie.

Tools for Making Salted Caramel Brownies

• Large Mixing Bowls: Essential for combining wet and dry ingredients smoothly.
• Heatproof Bowl: Perfect for melting chocolate and butter over simmering water.
• Baking Tin (23 x 30 x 4cm): Key for creating perfectly sized, evenly baked brownies.
• Whisk or Wooden Spoon: Great for stirring ingredients without overbeating.
• Sifter: Helps blend dry ingredients and remove lumps for a smooth batter.
• Microwave: Quick for warming caramel sauce to drizzling consistency.
• Toothpick: Crucial for checking brownie doneness.
• Sharp Knife: Needed for clean, precise cutting after brownies cool.

Instructions to Bake Salted Caramel Brownies

• Chocolate Preparation

Gather high-quality chocolate and butter, setting them up for a luxurious melting process over gentle heat. The smooth transformation creates a rich foundation for decadent brownies.

• Liquid Mixture

Combine eggs with aromatic coffee and sweet vanilla, blending them softly to create a silky base that will give brownies incredible depth and moisture.

• Dry Component Integration

Carefully sift flour with delicate baking powder, gently introducing these powdery elements into the chocolate mixture. The goal is a harmonious blend without overmixing.

• Chocolate Chip Distribution

Lightly dust extra chocolate chips with a whisper of flour, then tenderly fold them throughout the batter, ensuring delightful chocolate pockets in every bite.

• Baking Magic

Pour the luscious batter into a prepared pan, sliding it into a preheated oven. Watch carefully as the brownies transform, aiming for that perfect fudgy texture with a slight crackly top.

• Caramel Finish

Once brownies emerge warm and tempting, drizzle golden caramel across the surface. Sprinkle a delicate shower of flaky sea salt, creating a sophisticated sweet-salty balance that elevates the entire dessert.

Tips for That Perfect Salty-Sweet Finish

• Create mesmerizing caramel patterns by using a toothpick to gently drag caramel sauce through the brownie batter before baking, producing stunning marble-like designs.
• Experiment with different chocolate chip combinations like dark, milk, or white chocolate to adjust the richness and depth of flavor according to personal preference.
• Store brownies in an airtight container with a slice of bread to maintain their soft, fudgy texture and prevent them from drying out over 2-3 days.
• Elevate the brownies by serving with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, drizzling extra caramel sauce, or garnishing with toasted chopped nuts for added crunch and elegance.
• Replace some sugar with alternative sweeteners like coconut sugar or monk fruit sweetener for a lower-glycemic version that still delivers incredible taste and decadent texture.

Presenting Salted Caramel Brownies with Style

• Pair with Creamy Delight: Serve these decadent brownies alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for a luxurious contrast between warm, gooey chocolate and cool, smooth cream.
• Elevate Coffee Experience: Match these brownies with a rich espresso or cappuccino to enhance the subtle coffee notes baked into the chocolate base, creating a sophisticated dessert moment.
• Create Elegant Plating: Arrange the brownies on a rustic wooden board, drizzle extra caramel sauce, and sprinkle additional flaky sea salt for a restaurant-worthy presentation that impresses guests.
• Gift with Love: Wrap individual brownies in parchment paper tied with a ribbon for a homemade gift that showcases your baking skills and spreads delicious joy to friends and family.

Keeping Brownies Fresh – Storage & Freezing Tips

• Store Smartly: Transfer brownies to an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss.
• Refrigerate Right: Keep salted caramel brownies in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, ensuring they remain moist and delicious by wrapping them in plastic wrap before storing.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container to preserve for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for best texture and flavor.
• Slice with Care: Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts to create neat, clean edges when portioning brownies for storage or serving.

Gooey Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s salted caramel brownies combine rich chocolate with silky caramel for an irresistible dessert. Generous salt crystals elevate sweet notes, creating a sophisticated treat that satisfies chocolate cravings with professional bakery-style perfection.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 225 grams (8 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (Hershey’s)
• 170 grams (6 oz) additional semisweet chocolate chips
• 225 grams sugar
• 225 grams unsalted butter
• 85 grams (3 oz) unsweetened chocolate
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 65 grams all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
• 1½ tbsps instant coffee granules
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1½ tsps baking powder
• 140–170 grams good quality caramel sauce
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 2–3 tsps flaked sea salt (Maldon)

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Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and coat a 23 x 30 x 4 centimeters baking tin with butter and flour, creating a non-stick surface.
2. Chocolate Fusion: Establish a double boiler to gently melt semisweet chocolate chips, unsweetened chocolate, and butter. Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes, creating a smooth, glossy base.
3. Wet Ingredient Harmony: Whisk eggs, coffee granules, vanilla extract, and sugar in a large bowl. Integrate the cooled chocolate mixture, ensuring a uniform, room-temperature blend.
4. Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. Fold this dry mixture into the chocolate base with a light touch, maintaining a consistent texture.
5. Chocolate Chip Distribution: Dust remaining chocolate chips with flour, then gently fold into the batter to ensure even dispersion throughout the mixture.
6. Bake and Caramelize: Pour batter into the prepared tin, spreading evenly. Bake for 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Simultaneously, warm caramel sauce in the microwave until pourable.
7. Final Flourish: Drizzle warm caramel over the freshly baked brownies and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, creating a luxurious sweet-savory contrast.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Cool completely, then slice into 12 equal portions, presenting a decadent dessert with perfect texture and flavor balance.

Notes

• Chocolate Melting Technique: Use a double boiler for gentle, even melting to prevent burning and maintain chocolate’s smooth texture.
• Coffee Flavor Enhancer: Add coffee granules to intensify the chocolate’s depth and create a more complex, rich brownie taste.
• Chocolate Chip Distribution: Coat extra chocolate chips in flour to prevent sinking and ensure even spread throughout the batter.
• Cooling and Cutting Precision: Let brownies cool completely before cutting to achieve clean slices and optimal texture, preventing crumbling.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 390
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 210 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg