Hostess Gifts: Salted Caramel Brownies

What better way to show appreciation to your host or hostess than with chocolate.  Especially if that chocolate covered in caramel and sea salt!  They make a great gift to bring with you when invited to someone’s home.  I’ve also wrapped them individually, tied with ribbon, and placed in a pretty basket for guests to take as they leave MY home.

Salted Caramel Brownies — modified from Cooking Light Magazine

Brownies

• 3/4  cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 6 Tbs butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Topping

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbs heavy cream, divided
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Coarse sea salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, both sugars, cocoa, and baking powder in a large bowl.  Stir well with whisk.

Combine 6 Tbs butter, eggs, and 1 tsp vanilla.  Add this mixture to the flour mixture.  Stir to combine.

Pour batter into a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake for 19 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out with moist crumbs clinging.  Cool on a wire rack.

For topping, melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

Add 1/4 cup brown sugar and heavy cream.  Cook for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat.  Add vanilla and powdered sugar.  Stir with whisk until smooth.

Spread mixture evenly over cooled brownies.  Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.

Let stand for 20 minutes until set.