Browned butter is one of those irresistible tastes in life like the corner piece of brownie or the cheese that melts into a crispy chip in the frying pan. Simply put, it’s a flavour you can’t help but love, which is why these Browned Butter Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Blondies will be on repeat in your house.
It’s possible that you have accidentally browned butter many times in your life and savoured it’s sweet nutty flavour, but this time you’re going to brown your butter intentionally. Butter is expensive and I want to save you some dough, so there are two things you want to ensure. One, you need to keep a constant eye on the butter, and second, once you remove it from the heat you need to transfer it immediately to a heatproof dish. Do NOT leave it in the pan to cool or it will continue to cook.
The rest of this recipe is straight forward but when the flavours—salted caramel, chocolate, salt, and browned butter—come together, they create a dessert so delicious you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a crowd to share it with.
There is one more pitfall to this recipe, and that’s the Kraft Caramels required for the recipe. If you have kids in the house, or someone with a sweet tooth, you’ll want to hide the bag. Three times I attempted to make these and three times I had to go out and buy more caramels. Not that this is the worst thing that could happen to you, and honestly in a post-pandemic reality, this might be the fuel you need to keep you going, so who am I to judge. You know what, now that I think about it, buy a few bags and save yourself the trouble.
Brown Butter Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Blondies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 bag Kraft Caramels, wrappers removed
- 4 tbsps heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tbsp coarse sea salt or kosher salt
Instructions
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Melt unsalted butter in a heavy medium stainless steel saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally with a spatula and watch closely that it doesn't burn, for about five minutes until butter foams and turn golden brown. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a heat resistant bowl. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
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Heat oven to 375F. Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil going up the sides so that blondies may be easily lifted out. Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.
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Remove butter from refrigerator and if not already in a large mixing bowl, pour butter into a large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
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Spread two thirds of the blondie mix into prepared pan.
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Place caramels in a microwave safe bowl and pour whipping cream over top. Microwave on high for in 30 second increments, stirring between each turn, until smooth and melted. Pour over blondie mixture in pan, leaving a 1/2 inch around the sides to keep from sticking. Sprinkle half of your coarse salt over the top.
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Drop remaining dough over top of caramel and spread slightly.
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Bake in oven 20 minute or until toothpick inserted into centre of pan comes out clean and edges are pulling away from side of pan slightly.
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Cool on rack, then lift blondies from pan using foil. Cut into squares and serve alone or rewarm Browned Butter Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Blondies slightly in microwave and serve with ice cream.
I suspect these Browned Butter Blondies freeze well but I can’t say for certain, since I haven’t had a batch last long enough to try out. That being said, I’m confident that like most bar recipes they can be individually wrapped and frozen for up to three months. Pull one out as needed to add to lunches or take on the go.
Finally it is not lost on me that I am sharing this recipe with you five months into a pandemic. And I just want you to know if you need to eat the whole tray in one go, then you go right ahead sweetie and eat all your feelings. You’ll get no judgement here. In fact, pour yourself a ice cold milk to go with it, wrap yourself up like a burrito and watch Steel Magnolias. xo
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