These rich, fudgy Salted Caramel Chip Brownies combine deep chocolate flavor with the perfect sweet-and-salty hit from sea salt caramel chips. Using baking chips flavored with sea salt caramel is an easy way to get that caramel note without needing to make sauce from scratch, so you can enjoy an indulgent dessert with minimal fuss.
These brownies are deeply chocolaty, moist, chewy and satisfyingly fudgy—an ideal treat for chocolate lovers. They work well for feeding a crowd, gifting, or baking ahead: bake a batch now and freeze extras for quick desserts later.
How to make it
This is a straightforward recipe that uses common pantry ingredients and offers easy substitutions. You can use either natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder—both produce excellent results with a slightly different chocolate profile. If you don’t have sea salt caramel baking chips, semisweet chocolate chips will still make delicious brownies, but you will miss the caramel-salt contrast that defines these bars.
Key technique notes: melt the butter and chocolate gently over low heat and let the mixture cool a little before combining with the eggs to avoid cooking them. Folding the dry ingredients just until combined keeps the brownies dense and fudgy rather than cakey. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached—this yields a perfect chewy interior.
Ingredients Overview
- Unsalted butter, melted
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (for melting into the batter)
- Brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Large eggs, at room temperature
- Pure vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-processed)
- Sea salt (or flaky finishing salt)
- Sea salt caramel chips (baking chips)
Steps Overview
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the semi-sweet chocolate chips just until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and chocolate with brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
- Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and sea salt until just combined, then gently stir in the sea salt caramel chips.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake 22–24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Start checking a couple of minutes early since oven temperatures vary.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack. Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before using the parchment overhang to lift them out and cut into squares.
- Optional caramel drizzle: melt additional salted caramel chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second bursts at 50% power, stirring between intervals until smooth. Transfer to a small bag or piping tool and drizzle over cooled brownies.
Tips: Leaving a parchment overhang on two opposite sides makes it easy to lift the whole slab from the pan and get neat, even squares. Check doneness early to avoid overbaking—brownies continue to set as they cool, so a slightly underbaked center will finish as they rest.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these Salted Caramel Chip Brownies at room temperature or warmed slightly. For a more decadent presentation, top a warm brownie with a scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream and an extra sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They also pair nicely with a robust cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk.
Storage Instructions
Store cooled brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To freeze, layer individual squares between sheets of wax or parchment paper in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen brownies overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature before serving.
Salted Caramel Chip Brownies Recipe
Prep Time: 16 mins • Cook Time: 24 mins • Total Time: 40 mins • Servings: 24 brownies • Calories (approx.): 226 kcal each
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (for melting)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cocoa powder (Dutch-processed or natural)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup sea salt caramel chips
- Optional: ½ cup additional salted caramel chips for drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and place a rack in the center position. Grease and line a 13×9-inch pan with parchment.
- Melt the butter and ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips together over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted chocolate mixture with the brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir until well blended.
- Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and salt until just combined, then stir in the 1 cup caramel chips.
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake 22–24 minutes. A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool completely in the pan on a rack, then lift out with the parchment overhang and cut into squares.
Salted Caramel Chip Drizzle (Optional)
- Melt ½ cup salted caramel chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second bursts at 50% power, stirring between intervals until smooth.
- Transfer to a small bag, snip a corner, and drizzle over cooled brownies for an extra caramel finish.
Notes
- For easier cutting, leave a parchment overhang on two long sides of the pan and lift the slabs out once cooled.
- Ovens vary—start checking brownies a few minutes before the suggested bake time to prevent overbaking.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to five days, or freeze between parchment layers for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition (approx. per serving)
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 11 g (Saturated fat: 7 g)
- Sodium: 141 mg
- Sugar: 22 g
Have you tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and a comment below to share how it turned out—we love hearing about your variations and tips.
