As if we all needed another gooey, drippy, salty, crunchy, dense nugget of joy during this holiday season, I have just one more teeny tiny little recipe for you. And I'm not even sorry.
Use a boxed brownie mix, I won't even tell. Those things are seriously amazing. I love the Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate mix, with chunks of chocolate in the batter. Bake them up all nice and brownie-like. Please do not overbake your brownies! That's the fastest way to ruin them. They will appear underdone, but cool to doneness. A little gooey brownie never hurt anyone. Just chill them before cutting and wipe your sharp knife clean between cuts so you get smooth lines.
Cook up a batch of our caramel, and just slightly undercook it. I made a half-batch, and had enough for the brownies as well as an 8x8 pan of caramels (to which some I added pecans and some sprinkled cinnamon and salt). But because I had slightly undercooked it, the caramels were very soft and best kept refrigerated (them being chilled also made cutting and wrapping them much easier). My husband prefers them this way, so it wasn't an issue. If you'd prefer non-chilled caramels, you could save the sauce in a mason jar with a lid in the refrigerator for ice cream, hot cider, pancakes, spoonfuls late a night, its whatevs.
In addition to chilled brownies, this is also much easier done if you line your brownie pan: either foil or parchment paper.
Perfect for your next holiday party, wrapping up and giving away, leaving out for Santa...
Oh, Santa. Such a sucker for chunky chocolate, salty pretzels, crunchy pecans, and creamy caramel.
Caramel Pretzel Pecan Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 pan baked brownies I used 8x11
- candy thermometer
- ½ can sweetened condensed milk use 7 oz.
- 1 c sugar
- ½ c butter
- ¼ Tablespoon salt
- ¾ c white karo syrup
- 1 c chopped pecans
- 2 c broken pretzels
Instructions
- Make brownies, being sure to line pan with either foil or parchment paper, and not overbake.
- Make caramel. Combine the 7 oz. sweetened condensed milk, sugar, butter, salt, and karo syrup in heavy-bottomed pan. Stir constantly, being sure to not scrape the sides of the pot.
- Insert candy thermometer into pot after it has begun to boil, darken in color, and thicken. Stir around the thermometer. Continue to simmer and stir until it has reached 240 degrees. Immediately remove from heat and pour into glass measuring cup. Let cool a bit.
- Sprinkle pretzels and pecans over brownies. Drizzle enough caramel over brownies so that they are basically covered. Pour the remaining caramel in a buttered pan to cut into caramels or save for a topping.
- Refrigerate brownies until chill. Remove from pan by foil/parchment paper and place on cutting board. Cut with a hot knife, cleaning between cuts.
Emily Kemp says
Omg these look incredible!
Megan says
These look delicious! I love pretzels and can't wait to try them!
Laura P says
This looks SO good ! I love chocolate, salty, and sweet :)
Stephanie H says
Can't wait to try these, Steph!
Stephanie says
Thanks girl! They're so easy, you'll be bored with your baking expertise :)