Too cakey if they’re overcooked, too saucy if they are undercooked, chocolate brownies need to be baked for just the right amount of time to get that perfect texture. Using good dark chocolate is key to that intense depth of flavor that a great brownie has. I use chocolate that contains at least 55% cocoa solids, but if you want a serious cacao kick, try using chocolate with 70% or 75% cocoa solids. Don’t scrimp on the sugar when you are making brownies; it’s the all-important ingredient for the crisp top layer.–Rachel Allen
Dulce de Leche Brownies
Ingredients
- 6 ounces dark chocolate, (55% to 70% cacao)
- 12 tablespoons (6 oz) unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
- 1 ounce good-quality cocoa powder, sifted (about 1/3 cup)
- 3 large eggs
- 8 ounces caster or soft light brown sugar, (about 1 1/4 cups lightly packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour, (about 1 scant cup)
- One can dulce de leche or caramel or 14 ounces homemade dulce de leche*, caramel, or cajeta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch (20-centimeter) square cake pan with parchment paper.
- Melt the chocolate, butter, and cocoa powder together in a bowl set over but not touching a saucepan containing an inch or so of simmering water. Do not let the base of the bowl touch the water. When the butter and chocolate are melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir well to combine. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla until it’s a little light and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Still whisking constantly, add the chocolate mixture and whisk until well combined. Sift in the flour and gently fold with a spatula or metal spoon just until combined.
- Spoon the brownie mixture into the prepared pan. Use a teaspoon to add blobs of the dulce de leche or caramel or cajeta all over the surface of the brownies. Run a small sharp knife or skewer around the pan to create a marbled effect.
- Bake until the brownies are dry on top but still slightly gooey and fudge inside, 25 to 40 minutes.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan placed on a wire rack. Cut into squares and try to stop at just one.
Notes
*Can I make my own dulce de leche?
It couldn’t be easier to make your own homemade dulce de leche. Simply take off the labels from two 12-ounce cans of sweetened condensed milk. Place the cans in a large pot and add enough water to submerge them. Bring to a boil over high heat then lower the heat to a rapid simmer and cook for about 4 hours. Make sure the cans are always covered by at least 1 inch of water, adding more as needed; otherwise, you might have a dulce de leche explosion on your hands (not as fun as it sounds, we promise). Remove the cans from the water, let them cool, and voilà, you’ve got DIY dulce de leche!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
These brownies are delicious, although they’re very sweet and very rich.
I used a whole 13.4-ounce can of Nestle’s La Lechera Dulce de Leche. At first, I thought it was too much, but the amount turned out to be correct. I used Ghiradelli 60% bittersweet chocolate and Scharffen Berger cocoa. I used an 8-inch Pyrex cake pan and baked the brownies for a total of 40 minutes. They were still very soft in the middle, but I was able to cut them once they cooled. They were very gooey. I think the best thing to do would be to cool them completely, put them in the fridge until cold, and then cut them.
I was able to get 16 squares, but I might cut them smaller next time since they’re so rich. You could serve the squares with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a brownie caramel sundae.
These dulce de leche brownies are really good. The dulce de leche sank during baking and created little pockets of caramel underneath the marbled surface.
This is also an easy recipe to put together although the dulce de leche takes time to make. It took the brownies about 35 minutes to bake.
I’d be happy to make this dulce de leche brownies recipe again.
I used a store-bought can of caramel sauce. After 20 minutes in the oven, the brownies appeared done when the caramel looked gooey and the brownie looked dry and was starting to blacken slightly, so I decided this was enough cooking. I should have covered the brownies with foil and baked them longer, as they were underdone. I cut the finished brownies into 12 large pieces rather than the 16 suggested, as my tin was rectangular rather than square.
I have made these at least three times for various occasions and I think that these may now be the brownies that I am obligated to make for special occasions with my friends. I’ve always used the canned dulce de leche from the grocery store and it’s been perfect. The one change for me is that I cut these into smaller servings, as they are so rich, but hey, more brownies to go around!
Trisha, we love that you’re obligated to make these brownies now due to popular demand! Greatly appreciate you letting us know how well these go over amongst your crowd of friends and looking forward to hearing which recipe on our site you try next (and become obligated to make)…
OK, my mouth is leaking now….
Oh, my. That sounds painful, Donnie.
Hi! I’m thinking of making these for a corporate retreat function I am catering. There will be 18 guests. Will this recipe double well to bake in a 9×13 Pyrex pan? I think it will but just want to make sure.
Thanks!!
Hi Margaret, I’m always reluctant to double baking recipes just because baking is such an exact science. Since you’re serving this for a function, I’d be inclined to bake two batches. Just to be sure.