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The moment I threw together these Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies in my kitchen, they became an instant family favorite. Something magical happens when you mix gooey chocolate, crunchy pretzels and smooth caramel in one treat. I promise, after sharing these with your loved ones, they'll keep asking you to make them again and again!
What Goes Into These Mouthwatering Brownies
- Brownie Mix: Just grab 1 box for simplicity. I do homemade sometimes but honestly, the mix saves so much time.
- Vegetable Oil: You'll need ½ cup to get that incredible fudgy texture.
- Water: Only ¼ cup to nail the right brownie thickness.
- Eggs: Grab 2 large ones - I try to get mine fresh from the weekend market.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Add 1 cup for extra chocolate flavor throughout.
- Mini Pretzels: About 2 cups smashed into chunks. The kids always jump in to help crush them.
- Caramel Sauce: Pour in 1 cup - the jar stuff works fine though homemade tastes even better.
- Sea Salt: Sprinkle 1 tsp to create that addictive sweet-salty combo that makes everyone come back for seconds.
Let's Bake These Delightful Brownies Now
- Warm Up That Oven
- Get your oven going at 350°F. I always put parchment in my 9x9 baking dish because it makes getting the brownies out way easier.
- Stir Everything Together
- Grab your big mixing bowl and blend the brownie mix, oil, water and eggs until they're all combined. Sometimes I add the chocolate chips right into the mix for extra richness.
- Add Your Pretzels
- Take those pretzel pieces and sprinkle them all over the top of your batter. I actually prefer leaving some bigger chunks for that amazing crunch factor.
- Baking Time
- Pop them in for about 25 to 30 minutes. You can tell they're ready when your house smells wonderful and a toothpick comes out mostly clean. Let them cool all the way before the next step.
- Caramel Drizzle
- For homemade caramel, just melt your sugar until it turns amber, then stir in butter, cream, vanilla and salt. Let it cool a bit before pouring.
- Finishing Up
- Drizzle that yummy caramel all over the top, cut into squares, and watch how fast they get gobbled up!
My Personal Tricks For Amazing Results
- Pretzel Hack: Don't crush all pretzels the same size. Having different sized bits makes every bite more fun and interesting.
- Easy Caramel Shortcut: When I'm busy, I just heat up jarred caramel with a tiny bit of sea salt mixed in. It works great!
- Storage Tip: These treats stay good on your counter for about 3 days in an airtight container. You can stick them in the fridge if you want them to last longer.
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The Sweet Memory Behind These Brownies
I came up with this treat during a stormy day when the kids wanted something special to munch on. We had leftover pretzels from our family movie night and some unused caramel sitting in the fridge. That random mix-up turned into our most requested dessert ever. There's something about that sweet-salty mix that nobody can resist, and I love seeing people's surprise when they taste that first amazing bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why does my caramel get grainy?
Avoid over-stirring while it cooks, and brush the pan's edges with water to keep sugar crystals from building up.
- → Can I use another pan size?
A 9x9 pan works best for thickness. Use a 9x13 pan by scaling your ingredients up 1.5x and adjusting baking time slightly.
- → How do I know when they’re baked?
Look for a toothpick to have some crumbs on it—not entirely clean. They’ll finish setting as they cool.
- → Can these brownies be frozen?
You can freeze them without toppings for 3 months. Add pretzels and caramel after thawing to avoid losing texture.
- → Why add salt to the caramel?
The salt brings out the caramel and chocolate flavors, balancing their sweetness and adding depth.