The Fudgy Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

Salted caramel brownies dance between decadent sweetness and sophisticated flavor profiles.

Chocolate enthusiasts will adore this rich, multilayered dessert that elevates traditional brownie expectations.

Complex textures merge seamlessly with intense cocoa depth and delicate salt crystals.

Home bakers can create a seriously impressive treat without complicated techniques or professional training.

Each bite promises a luxurious experience that balances rich chocolate undertones with bright, crystalline salt notes.

The recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience that feels both comforting and elegant.

Unexpected flavor combinations make these brownies a seriously crave-worthy indulgence: prepare to be amazed.

Key Ingredients for Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies

• Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Unsweetened Chocolate: Rich base that provides deep chocolate flavor, high-quality chocolate ensures better taste and texture.
• Chocolate Chips (Additional): Extra chocolate chunks that create delightful melty pockets in the brownies, choose chips with good melt properties.

• Eggs: Crucial for binding and creating structure, fresh large eggs work best.
• Butter: Adds richness and smooth texture, use high-quality unsalted butter for consistent results.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall chocolate flavor, pure vanilla provides the best taste.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and helps bind ingredients, unbleached flour recommended.
• Baking Powder: Ensures light and soft brownie texture, fresh powder is important.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances chocolate flavor, use coarse kosher salt.
• Coffee Granules: Deepens chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste, instant coffee works well.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Adds contrasting salty crunch on top, Maldon salt is an excellent choice.

• Caramel Sauce: Creates sweet, glossy topping, store-bought or homemade sauce works perfectly.

How to Create Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grab a 9 x 12 x 1½-inch baking pan and generously coat it with butter and flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Melt The Chocolate Magic

• Butter
• Semisweet chocolate chips
• Unsweetened chocolate

Stir until smooth and glossy. Let the mixture cool down for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

• Eggs
• Coffee granules
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar

Pour in the melted chocolate mixture and allow it to reach room temperature.

Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Kosher salt

Fold these dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture until just combined.

Step 5: Add Extra Chocolate Goodness

Toss remaining chocolate chips with a sprinkle of flour, then gently fold into the batter.

Step 6: Bake To Perfection

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick – it should come out mostly clean.

Step 7: Create Caramel Drizzle

Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave until it becomes silky and pourable. Drizzle generously over the warm brownies and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for that irresistible sweet-salty crunch.

Step 8: Cool And Slice

Allow brownies to cool completely. Cut into 12 delectable bars and serve. Prepare for brownie bliss!

Helpful Tips for Salted Caramel Brownies by Barefoot Contessa

• Slowly Melt Chocolate: Use gentle heat over a water bath to prevent scorching, ensuring smooth, glossy chocolate without burning.
• Warm Eggs to Room Temperature: Cold eggs can disrupt batter consistency, so let them sit out for 30 minutes for better mixing and texture.
• Mix Batter Minimally: Stir ingredients just until combined to maintain a fudgy, tender brownie texture without developing tough gluten.
• Perfect Doneness Test: A toothpick with moist crumbs indicates perfectly baked brownies, avoiding dry or undercooked centers.
• Drizzle Warm Caramel: Pour salted caramel over hot brownies to create beautiful swirls and allow deep flavor penetration.

Storing Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies

• Sealed Container Method: Lock in moisture by storing brownies in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. Layer brownies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve their decadent texture.
• Freezer Preservation Method: Individually wrap each brownie in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal flavor for up to 3 months.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Cool brownies completely at room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator. Store in a sealed container for maximum freshness, keeping them moist and delicious for 5 days. Remove from fridge 15-20 minutes before serving to restore their rich, velvety texture.

Ways to Adapt Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies

• Nutty Chocolate Caramel Explosion: Replace half the chocolate chips with chopped pecans or walnuts, adding a crunchy texture and rich nutty flavor to the classic brownie recipe.
• Dark Espresso Caramel Adventure: Increase coffee granules to 2 tablespoons and use dark chocolate instead of semisweet, creating an intense, robust coffee-chocolate experience with deep caramel undertones.
• Raspberry Swirl Chocolate Sensation: Swirl 1/4 cup raspberry preserves through the brownie batter before baking, introducing a tangy fruit complement to the sweet caramel and chocolate base.
• Spiced Chocolate Caramel Indulgence: Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dry ingredients, delivering a warm, subtle heat that enhances the chocolate's complexity.

Reflections on Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies

Barefoot Contessa’s Salted Caramel Brownies bring chocolate lovers into a luxurious realm of indulgence.

Salt crystals dance across rich chocolate landscapes, creating sensory symphonies in each square.

Silky caramel ribbons weave through fudgy textures, elevating classic brownie experiences.

Chocolate chips scattered throughout promise delightful surprise in every bite.

Homemade magic flows from Ina Garten’s signature recipe, inviting passionate bakers to explore culinary creativity.

Special moments await with these irresistible brownies – eager souls can share this delectable discovery, spark conversations about kitchen adventures, and spread deliciousness across social networks with passionate comments and enthusiastic likes.

What Makes Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies So Good

• Elevate Chocolate Indulgence: These brownies transform a classic dessert into a luxurious experience with rich semisweet chocolate, decadent caramel, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt that creates an irresistible sweet-salty contrast.
• Master Simple Gourmet Techniques: The recipe uses professional cooking methods like melting chocolate over simmering water and carefully folding ingredients, making sophisticated baking accessible to home cooks without complicated steps.
• Craft Perfect Texture Harmony: By following precise instructions like not beating eggs and avoiding overbaking, these brownies promise a magical combination of fudgy interior and slightly crisp edges that melt perfectly in your mouth.
• Create Impressive Dessert Magic: With just 35 minutes of baking time and minimal ingredients, you can produce a restaurant-quality dessert that looks and tastes like it was made by a professional pastry chef, guaranteed to wow friends and family.

Barefoot Contessa Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

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4.8 from 17 reviews

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

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Description

Barefoot Contessa salted caramel brownies blend rich chocolate with silky caramel in a luxurious dessert that promises pure indulgence. Smooth chocolate layers mingle with golden caramel swirls, creating a perfect balance of sweet and salty that will delight chocolate enthusiasts.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chocolate and Cookies:

• 225 grams (8 ounces) Hershey’s semisweet chocolate chips
• 170 grams (6 ounces) additional semisweet chocolate chips
• 85 grams (3 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
• 225 grams sugar
• 65 grams all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder

Liquids and Flavoring:

• 225 grams unsalted butter
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 1½ tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Finishing and Seasoning:

• 140–170 grams good quality caramel sauce
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2–3 teaspoons flaked sea salt (e.g., Maldon)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 180°C (350°F) and preparing a 23 x 30 x 4 centimeters (9 x 12 x 1½-inch) baking tin with butter and flour coating.
2. Create a double boiler setup to gently melt 225 grams () semisweet chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate together with butter, allowing the mixture to cool for approximately 15 minutes after melting.
3. Combine eggs, coffee granules, vanilla extract, and sugar in a large mixing bowl using a gentle stirring motion, then incorporate the cooled chocolate mixture and allow it to reach room temperature.
4. Carefully sift together flour, baking powder, and kosher salt in a separate bowl, then integrate this dry mixture into the chocolate base, ensuring thorough but gentle mixing.
5. Coat the remaining 170 grams () of chocolate chips with of flour, then delicately fold them into the brownie batter to distribute evenly.
6. Transfer the batter smoothly into the prepared baking tin, spreading it uniformly, and bake for 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean, taking care not to exceed the recommended baking time.
7. Warm the caramel sauce in the microwave until it reaches a pourable consistency, stirring to achieve a smooth texture, then elegantly drizzle over the warm brownies and garnish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
8. Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing into 12 equal portions, ensuring clean cuts and optimal texture for serving.

Notes

• Drizzle warm caramel on freshly baked brownies to help it seep into the crumbly layers, creating an irresistible gooey texture that melts in your mouth.
• Stop mixing the batter the moment ingredients blend together, preventing tough and dry brownies by maintaining a delicate, tender crumb.
• Gently warm chocolate using a double boiler technique, stirring carefully to avoid scorching and ensuring smooth, glossy melting.
• Pull eggs from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, allowing them to reach room temperature for better ingredient integration and consistent mixing.
• Test brownies’ readiness by inserting a toothpick near the center—a few moist crumbs signal perfect fudgy consistency, while wet batter means more oven time is needed.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 38g
• Sodium: 270mg
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 30mg