These Caramel Pretzel Brownies are the ultimate sweet and salty combo! The texture and flavors contrast each other perfectly for people who want something sweet but not *too* sweet. Use store bought caramel for ease and you can have these whipped up in no time!

This recipe starts with my classic brownie base, which gets a lovely, gooey shake up in the form of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. Once baked, drizzle with more peanut butter for total decadence. These do need some extra bake time to account for all the extra goodness involved.

For these brownies, we rely heavily on the melted butter and light brown sugar to give the fudgy texture and super shiny topping. To make the shiny top on a brownie, there are arguments as to whether it’s the egg, or the molten sugar in the butter, so let’s make sure to do both. This recipe cuts neatly into 9 pieces, but could be sliced smaller. If serving a crowd, or as shown in the photos, I cut into 16 around the mini pretzels. Plus, the recipe is easily doubled. They keep well for a few days. That said, they don’t last long if you’ve got lots of happy hungry mouths in the house!

WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THE BEST BROWNIES, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Quality Ingredients: Always use high-quality ingredients in your brownie recipe. This includes using good quality chocolate, cocoa powder, and fresh eggs. It will make a noticeable difference in the taste and texture of the brownies.
Don’t Overmix: When combining the ingredients, be gentle and avoid overmixing the batter. Overmixing can lead to a denser and tougher texture. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
Proper Pan Size: Use the recommended pan size mentioned in the recipe. Using a smaller or larger pan can affect the baking time and the texture of the brownies. For fudgy and moist brownies, an 8×8-inch square baking pan is usually recommended.
Do Not Overbake: Keep a close eye on the brownies while they are baking and avoid overbaking them. A slightly underbaked brownie will be fudgy and moist, while an overbaked one can turn out dry. Insert a toothpick into the center – if it comes out with a few moist crumbs, the brownies are done.
Let Them Cool: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving. This helps them to set and ensures that they hold their shape. It also allows the flavors to develop fully.
Experiment with Additions: Feel free to get creative with your brownie recipe by changing up the chocolate chips/chocolate chunks, or by adding nuts or fruit. Just make sure not to overload the batter, as it may affect the texture.

Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to baking brownies. Don’t be afraid to make tweaks and adjustments to the recipe to suit your preferences. You can totally shift the frosting quantity for more or less, just do what suits you!

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for this bake. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. Also, I use a standard 8 inch square tin for almost all of my traybake recipes for ease. If you do want to convert to 9 inch, you’ll need to play with the quantities a little or they will be too thin. To line a square baking tin, cut two pieces of baking paper that are just narrower than the width of the tin (less than 8 inches wide). Then place one on top of the other in opposite directions, so that all four edges of the tin are covered. This will make removing the bake so much easier!

Dark/Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Melted
Unsalted Butter
Light Brown Soft Sugar
Granulated Sugar
Large Free Range Eggs
Vanilla Extract
All Purpose (Plain) Flour
Cocoa Powder
Mini Salted Pretzels
Caramel Sauce (Store bought, although you can make your own if preferred)

TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST Caramel Pretzel Brownies

Melted Butter: As mentioned above, this contributes to the shiny top!
Melted Chocolate: Try to use a higher quality dark chocolate where possible, as this really does contribute to that final flavour.
Light Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: It is the combination of both sugars that creates the fudgy texture and rich flavour.
Cocoa Powder: Again, where possible try to use a higher quality make. This contributes so much to the flavour and I find some cheap ones really dull the richness!
Pretzels: Mini salted pretzels are the absolute best option for these brownies. Break up a good amount for the batter then place whole ones on top for the Instagram-mable look like I do. OR you can simply crush and scatter them on top too!
Caramel: Feel free to make your own sauce. For ease, I use a store bought caramel from a squeezy bottle. This saves so much time and effort!

For my Caramel Pretzel Brownies, I use a basic 8′ square pan (I like this one). I also recommend a good stand mixer or high speed mixer (like this one) to make the brownie mixture. If you want more wild brownie recipe ideas, check out my Red Velvet Brownies. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials!

STORAGE FOR MY Caramel Pretzel Brownies

Because these brownies don’t use a fresh frosting, place in an airtight container and keep in a cool place like your cupboard or pantry. They will keep for up to 3 days this way. A cake tin is a great option if you have one.

Alternatively, you can freeze the brownies. Completely wrap as tight as you can using cling film/Saran wrap. If you have an airtight container too, place it in there before freezing. Let thaw in the fridge before serving. I like to give them a quick 10-15 second blast in the microwave before eating for that extra gooeyness.