Caramel Sea Salt Brownies

My husband loves most things that I make, but let's face it...he just doesn't have the sweet tooth that I have.  I have to eat something sweet after lunch and dinner.  I have to have some chocolate at least twice a day.  Whether it's homemade or store bought, there is always some form of cookie or candy in our house (although I am trying to get better, but it's a long road ahead).   He does taste everything I make, but honestly I end up eating most of whatever the dessert is...yikes!  These brownies were a different story...he flipped over these!  And so did I.  I literally had an "Oh.my.God" moment when I bit into the chocolaty, gooey, salty goodness.

Did you ever see that show on the Food Network called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate"?  Each episode has an ingredient or a theme and the celebrity chefs talk about...wait for it...the best thing they ever ate.  I think this was the Salty episode and Claire Robinson (5 Ingredient Fix) was talking about this Sweet and Salty brownie she had somewhere in Brooklyn.  It looked to die for.  And I had to figure out how to make it!  Turns out, it wasn't that hard!  Using brownie mix from a box (make sure it's extra fudgy) and wrapped caramels, I think I was able to create a pretty good thing here.  I don't own a candy thermometer, although I need one, so I couldn't make my own caramel.  If you do and you want make it a bit more homemade, go for it!  Be sure to look on your box of brownies because often they will have a way to make cake-like or fudgy brownies...you definitely want as fudgy as possible for these guys.     

                                                                                                                                                                                          

Makes 16 Brownies

Caramel Sea Salt Brownies

1 box of fudge brownie mix (I used Duncan Hines Dark Fudge Chunk)

ingredients as it calls for on the box (egg, water, oil)

1 bag of wrapped caramels

1 teaspoon of sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x9 pan with cooking spray.  Mix brownies according to instructions on box and pour half into the 9x9 pan.  Bake until just set, about 15 minutes.  

Meanwhile, unwrap all the caramels and place in a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons of water.  Heat over medium-low heat until completely melted and stir in sea salt.  Once the first layer of brownies is done, pour melted caramel over the top.  Then, over the caramel, pour the rest of the brownie mix.  Bake for another 15 minutes until the top brownie part is done (do not overbake!!).

Let cool completely (I know it's hard to wait but otherwise they won't cut well!) and cut into 16 squares.