Skip to main content

Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Topped Brownies

Brownies are one of my favorite indulgences.  Pretty much any brownie will satisfy me.  I'm not fussy. It can be a fancy-schmancy brownie or a brownie from a box.  I don't like nuts in my brownie. Nuts distract me from everything I love about brownies.  The brownie just needs to be full of fudgy chocolate flavor.

Decadent Caramel Ganache Brownies

Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Topped Brownies
Decadent Caramel Ganache Brownies
Occasionally, I like a kicked-up brownie.   Sometimes I'll add a chocolate buttercream topping to a basic brownie and that is yummy.  When I want to go over the top, I'll add a layer of caramel and top that with a layer of chocolate ganache.  Does that sound kicked up enough for you?  The resulting brownie is delicious...decadently delicious.  Oh, yeah, baby!  I am not kidding.  This is one heck of a brownie.

There are three steps to this brownie, so you'll need to plan accordingly.  Start by making your favorite brownie recipe.  You can even use your favorite boxed brownie in this recipe.   While the brownies are cooling you can make the caramel layer.
Caramel Ganache Brownies

Have no fear, it's easy to make the caramel.  You'll need a candy thermometer to make sure you get the right consistency to the caramel.  This caramel is soft and creamy, not thick and chewy.  The caramel is a perfect consistency for topping the brownie.

Once the caramel is spread over the brownies it needs to cool for at least fifteen minutes before adding the chocolate ganache layer.  

Finally, the brownies must cool in the refrigerator for at least an hour.  I'd say you'll need about three hours from the start to serve.

Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Topped Brownies

Printer Friendly Recipe

Step 1
Bake your favorite brownie recipe. Use a box mix if you like.

Step 2
The Caramel Layer
  • 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Step 3
The Chocolate Ganache
  • 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
Directions
Bake the brownie layer per your favorite recipe.  Be sure to line the pan with parchment paper leaving enough of an edge exposed to lift the brownies from the pan in one large piece.

Tip:  Use large office clips to clip the paper to the edge of the pan and hold it in place while the brownies are baking.

Bake until the brownies are moist, yet set.  A toothpick inserted in the center will have a few crumbs on it when removed.  Cool the brownies before adding the caramel layer.

Line Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
Bake the Brownie Layer

To make the caramel layer, place all of the ingredients in a pot over medium heat.  Stir well to combine.  As the mixture heats, clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan.

Use a Candy Thermometer
Use a Candy Thermometer to Make the Caramel Layer

Continue cooking, stirring with a whisk constantly until the temperature of the mixture hits 225 degrees.  Pour the caramel over the brownies, smoothing with a spatula.  Set the pan aside to cool until the caramel layer sets, about 15 minutes.

To make the ganache, place the chocolate chips and the cream in a small bowl.  Heat them together in the microwave for 15 seconds.  Stir and repeat until the chips are fully melted and the mixture is thick and creamy.  Pour the ganache over the caramel layer.

Spread the Ganache Topping
Spread the Ganache Topping over the Caramel


Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
Use the parchment paper to lift the brownies from the pan.  You'll have three lovely layers.

Three Layers: Ganache, Caramel, Brownie
Three Layers:  Ganache, Caramel, Brownie

Place the brownies on a cutting board and slice into individual servings.  Use a long-bladed knife to cut through in one motion.

Tip:  You'll want to run the knife blade under hot water to heat the blade for easy cutting and prettier brownies.

Essential Tools for this Recipe: (These are affiliate links.  Thanks for shopping!)
A good candy thermometer
Parchment Paper
Offset Spatula
9x9 baking pan


Don't forget to follow me on Facebook.  Be sure to choose the "See First" option, under "Following", in order to see my posts in your Facebook feed.


Enjoy!

Comments

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bread fo

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

Crunchy, spicy, and yummy are all words used to describe a good gingersnap cookie.   While my hands-down, favorite cookie is a gooey chocolate chip cookie I occasionally crave a spicy ginger snaps cookie or  this molasses cookie .  This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner.  It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies In the U.S., gingersnaps are usually drop cookies with lots of cracks on the surface.  That's exactly how I like them.  Those found in other countries may be thinner and sliced.  The Lebkuchen, a traditional German cookie, and the pepparkakor, from Sweden, are often cut into festive shapes.  My gingersnaps are round. Reasons You'll Love These Gingersnap Cookies These gingersnaps are tasty cookies at any time of the year.   Their spiciness is perfect as a holid

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while. 

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

How to Doctor Up Store-Bought Potato Salad

Here's a potato salad time-saver for you just in time for summer cookouts. You'll love how you can transform grocery store potato salad so easily no matter whether you are hosting a BBQ or bringing a side dish for a summer barbecue. There's no judgment here. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of store-made potato salad. It's good. It's predictable.  It will do.  All it needs is a little doctoring. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better When you need a quick potato salad, and have no time to make one from scratch, that ordinary store-bought potato salad you have in your refrigerator can go from blah to amazing in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Yes, you can improve store-bought potato salad. How to Doctor Up Potato Salad to have a little more flavor? You're going to a potluck picnic or you are having

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you looking for the best whoopie pie recipe?  Whoopie pies are a quintessential New England dessert and a memorable treat from my childhood.   My mom would make them for us every once in a while.  Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies!  Yum! Today I'm sharing my recipe for the best-ever whoopie pies. The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff Whoopie Pies Whoopie pies are soft round cookie-like cakes with a smooth cream filling sandwiched in the center. Debate rages about the whoopie pie's origin.  Some say these goodies originated in New England, others say they originated with the Amish.   There is also debate about what ingredients should be in the filling.  Many recipes include fillings made with Marshmallow Fluff or buttercream but neither is  traditional, in my opinion.  The whoopie pie of my childhood is a traditional Maine whoopie pie recipe, made with a cooked flour and milk mixture added to suga

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies.  Fruit flies in the kitchen.  Fruit flies in the bathroom.  Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home.   It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another.  If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance.  This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time. 

Easy Chicken Parmesan-A Make Ahead Freezer Dinner

Chicken Parmesan is a favorite dinner in the Just One Donna house because it is a delicious dish that can satisfy your cravings for Italian food. It's also easy to make at home with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry.  But what if you don't have time to cook on a busy weeknight? Don't worry, you can make Chicken Parmesan ahead of time and freeze it for later. I like to prepare Chicken Parmesan to have on hand in my freezer for those busy weeknights when we might be tempted to head to a restaurant instead of eating at home.  How to Make Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Busy Nights This post contains affiliate links.  I receive a small compensation when you shop using these links Easy Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Dinner Chicken Parmesan, also known as Chicken Pa

Can You Make Better Bacon in Water?

What is the best way to cook crisp, tender bacon? Today, let's investigate a new method for cooking bacon on the stove that I'm seeing suggested as a technique that will change your life.  It's frying your bacon in a pan with a small amount of water.  Is cooking bacon with a bit of water in the pan a better way to make bacon? How to Cook Bacon in Water This is a simple, relatively fast way to make perfectly cooked bacon every time. Whether you are looking to impress your guests with a decadent breakfast or just want to enjoy a delicious bacon treat, this technique is the perfect solution.

Forgotten Pork Chops-A Skillet Dinner

When I first made this pork chop skillet dinner several years ago I knew it was a winner but never predicted how wildly successful it would be with my readers. Perhaps it is the comfort food combination of pork chops with savory rice.  Or maybe it is the easy one-pan preparation.  Whatever it is, you're sure to love this updated, one-pan, comforting Forgotten Pork Chops dinner.  Pork Chops and Rice with Cream of Mushroom Soup (This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  When you purchase through these links I receive a small compensation.)  So you might wonder why I updated the recipe. Like most recipes that are part of my menu rotation, a tweak here or there is customary. I encourage you to do the same.  A tweak here to there will make the recipe your own.