SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIES

My best friend Amanda certainly knows the way to my heart, a few months ago she posted me a recipe for salted caramel brownies….I adore brownies and I LOVE salted caramel! I only just got round to making them though as every week I have been making Pascal's favourite millionaire shortbread however this week I fancied a change!

Ingredients for 16 brownies:

Brownies:
225g unsalted butter, plus a little extra for greasing
250g dark chocolate, chopped
225g golden caster sugar
4 large eggs
150g plain flour, sifted

Salted caramel:
40ml double cream
1/4 vanilla pod, split length ways, seeds scraped
15g salted butter
2 pinches of sea salt
60g caster sugar
40g golden syrup

Start by making the caramel. In a saucepan, combine the cream, half the butter, a good pinch of salt, the vanilla seeds and pod. I have never cooked with a vanilla pod before (I couldn't even find it in the supermarket), it was a bit fiddly to scrape the seeds out as they stuck to my nails, but I did my best!

Cook over a low heat so the butter melts and whisk until it is just bubbling (2-3 minutes), then take off the heat and set aside.

Place the caster sugar and golden syrup in a medium heavy based pan over a low heat.

Don't stir, just swirl gently to help dissolve the sugar. I thought this sounded weird but it actually works very easily. Turn up the heat and keep swirling until the sugar turns into golden caramel.

Stir the caramel into the cream mixture with a wooden spoon, discarding the vanilla pod.

Return the pan to a low heat while you stir in the remaining butter, then set aside once more.

Scrunch up a large piece of greaseproof paper, wet it and then line a 20x30cm (or thereabouts) baking tin with the damp paper.

Pour in the caramel and sprinkle with the rest of the salt. Then place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

You now have 15 minutes to relax (I used this time to wash up)!

Then start to make the brownies. Preheat the oven to 180C / gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20x30cm (or thereabouts) baking tin (I actually used the same one as before).

Melt the butter in a pan over a low heat.

Stir in the chocolate until it is melted (I added some leftover Easter eggs).

Then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar.

Once cooled a little, whisk in the eggs.

Then add the flour (through a sieve) and fold in until incorporated.

Pour the mixture into the tin. Then dot teaspoons of the salted caramel into the brownie mixture, pressing to submerge. It doesn't have to be neat (as you can see)!

When you have a third of the caramel left, drizzle it over top, using a spoon to ripple it through. 

Bake the brownies in the oven for 25 minutes until cooked but still a bit gooey. Then leave to cool for at least an hour.

If you like the brownies a little less gooey (I do) put them in the fridge to cool for another couple of hours however it is up to you. When ready, cut into squares, tuck in and enjoy!

These were utterly delicious! I have to say they are actually slightly dangerous as I cannot stop eating them. The salted caramel is unbelievable….I could even add more. A fabulous recipe….make it….you won't regret it!