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Dark Chocolate Brownies with Pistachios and Easy Salted Caramel Sauce

I’ve got a real treat for you guys today.

Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Brownies with Salted Caramel

Take a moment and just indulge in these deep, dark chocolate brownies.  The delicious mess on top features several layers of rich, salty caramel, grassy shelled pistachios, and glistening flecks of flakey sea salt.  I just love the combination of salty pistachios and bittersweet chocolate.  But if you’re not a pistachio fan, you can definitely substitute in pecans or walnuts.

I’ve actually have another recipe on Kitchen Konfidence for salted caramel sauce.  My 2011 recipe has several additional ingredients and steps that act like training wheels to help a home cook achieve a delicious caramel sauce without worry of burning or texture issues.  My old recipe also has more butter and heavy cream, resulting in a more mellow caramel flavor.  Since then, I’ve had much practice with making caramel at home, and I can now make a perfect sauce with minimal effort and ingredients.  I’m sharing that Easy Salted Caramel Sauce recipe today too.  It’s so fast and comes together in a matter of moments!  Continue reading for the recipes.

Brownie Ingredients

I originally featured these brownies in my Brooksters [Brownie + Cookie] recipe.  The technique below does require a double boiler situation where you have one bowl sitting atop a saucepan of simmering water.  This allows you to melt the chocolate in the bowl using gentle steam heat, avoiding any burning.  I personally don’t mind using a double boiler, but if you’re just not into it, then I’m sure you could melt the chocolate in a microwave.  Just be careful, because the microwave can easily burn chocolate, and nobody likes burnt chocolate!

Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Brownies with Salted Caramel

Brownie Texture

 

Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Brownies with Salted Caramel
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Dark Chocolate Brownies with Pistachios and Easy Salted Caramel Sauce

Servings 9 large brownies
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes, plus more for greasing
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
  • 5 oz. dark chocolate (top quality, 60 to 72 percent cacao), coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Easy Salted Caramel Sauce (recipe below)
  • Scant 1/2 cup chopped shelled pistachios, pecans or walnuts would be nice here too
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 350°F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Lightly butter a 9" x 9" baking dish, line with parchment, then lightly butter the parchment. Leave some parchment overhang (see photo above), so you can easily pull the brownies out of the pan.
  2. Add flour, fine grain sea salt and cocoa powder to a medium bowl, whisking to combine. Set aside.
  3. Bring a large pot filled with 2 inches of water to a simmer. Set a heatproof bowl on top of the pot, but make sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the simmering water. Add butter and chocolate to the bowl, stirring until melted and combined. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl on the pot. Whisk white sugar and light brown sugar into the chocolate mixture. Remove the bowl from the pot and let cool to room temperature.
  4. Add eggs to the chocolate mixture, whisking until just combined. At this point, switch from a whisk to a spatula. You want to avoid adding extra air to the batter. Add vanilla and stir until just combined. Gently fold flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until just incorporated. Do not overmix here. Pour brownie batter into the prepared baking dish.
  5. Cook for 16 - 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean. The texture should be on the cakier sider, not fudgey or gooey. The toppings are gooey, so you don't want goo on goo. Transfer the baking dish to a cooling rack, and let cool for 5 minutes before topping.
  6. Drizzle the surface of the brownies with salted caramel sauce, then sprinkle an even layer of chopped pistachios and sea salt. Repeat the layers once more to ensure a decadent coating. Cut into 9 even squares and enjoy!
Salted Caramel Sauce
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Easy Salted Caramel Sauce

Adapted from here.
Servings 10 ounces
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 3 ounces 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature

Instructions

  1. Add sugar to a large pot over medium-high heat. As the sugar melts, stir occasionally to ensure even cooking. The sugar will liquify, and then quickly start turning brown. Once the caramel turns a deep brown, almost smoking, stir in all the butter and kosher salt. Once the butter is completely melted in, take the pan off the heat, and add the heavy cream, stirring until smooth.
  2. Use the sauce immediately or store covered in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If the sauce has thickened after refrigeration, you can warm it in the microwave for 30 - 60 seconds to thin it out.

Here are some other chocolate desserts on Kitchen Konfidence:

Chocolate Pistachio Pots de Creme

Chocolate Pistachio Pots de Creme

Chocolate Panna Cotta with Espresso Whipped Cream

Chocolate Panna Cotta with Espresso Whipped Cream

Chocolate-Dipped Potato Chip Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Potato Chip Cookies

Whole Wheat Skillet Cookie

Whole Wheat Skillet Cookie

Brooksters [Brownie + Cookie]

Brooksters, Brownie and Cookie

Nutella Scones

Nutella Scones

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I am thinking if you had a nickel for every time I said I want to be your neighbor just to eat everything you make I bet you could retire and afford to buy me the house next door so I can be your neighbor and eat everything you make. h ha ha ha
    Also, I want these brownies. Like, NOW. I suck at having pistachios in the house for a recipe because whenever I buy them we pretty much sit down and eat them all until we have had enough salt intake for a couple years. They are SO good!!

    • Hahaha, yes!!! I also enjoy snacking on pistachios.l, so I like to buy them for recipes on the same day I’m cooking them!

  9. Brandon, I am so excited to try this recipe this weekend! I love your easy-to-follow instructions and the way in which you explain intimidating recipes so as to make them seem like something even the inexperienced cook (me) can handle! Thanks for the tips. Will let you know how they turn out — and will be bringing some to Lilly!

  13. Followed your every instruction. Far and away the best brownies ever!!! So excited to serve them to friends and family!

    • Hi Lynds!! So glad the brownies turned out well! I guess it’s my way to still be involved in East Coast family gatherings 😉

    • Lisa, you should give it a try! It’s so rewarding to make something super tasty from a few simple ingredients. And yes, I would consider this “diet” food. Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and pistachios are healthy fat. Am I reaching here ;)?

    • Welcome Arman! So glad you like the brownies. Thanks for the kind words 🙂

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