Barefoot Contessa's Salted Caramel Brownies

Submitted by Kerena

"From the Oct 2012 Issue of Food Network Magazine."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 14
• Yields: 12 brownies
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 8 ounces Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 6 ounces Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons instant coffee granules, such as Nescafe
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 5 -6 ounces caramel sauce, such as Fran's
• 2 -3 teaspoons flaked sea salt, such as Maldon

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 x 12 x 1 1/2-inch baking pan.
2. Melt the butter, 8 ounces of the chocolate chips and the unsweetened chocolate together in a medium bowl set over simmering water. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature. (It is very important to allow the butter to cool before adding the chocolate chips, or the chips will melt and ruin the brownies.).
3. In a medium bowl, sift together 1/2 cup of the flour, the baking powder and salt and add to the chocolate mixture. Toss the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate chips and the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour in a medium bowl and add them to the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
4. Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Don't overbake!
5. As soon as the brownies are out of the oven, place the jar of caramel sauce without the lid in a microwave and heat just until it's pourable. Stir until smooth. Drizzle the caramel evenly over the hot brownies and sprinkle with the sea salt. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars.

Reviews

[Carmen P.]

Best brownies ever!

 

[Mandy at Food.com]

Ina does it again! These brownies are rich, fudgy, completely over-the-top and delicious. Although the recipe requires a few separate steps (and bowls), it's very easy. A few notes: As tempting as it is to dig in right away, I'd recommend letting these sit for an hour or two. They're very moist and crumble easily (especially at first). I used fleur de sel and dulce de leche (she recommends Maldon and pure caramel sauce), which were perfect. However, next time I'll reduce the amount of coffee granules. I'd say 1 Tbs max, unless you want to really taste the coffee flavor. But all in all, absolutely amazing!

 

[Danni85]

I love most things Ina makes. This is just a great treat that brings the Fall home for me.