The Best Brownies of All Time

These brownies are gooey, caramel goodness. I came across thus recipe from Southern Living, and immediately fell in love with it! I think you will agree they are the beet brownies of all time!! 

Video for this recipe: https://youtu.be/Z3KJ17y4wUM

• (1) 16 oz box fudge brownie mix 

• 1/2 C unsalted butter, melted

• 2 t vanilla extract

• 3/4 C evaporated milk, divided (1/4 C, 1/2 C)

• (2) 11 oz bags of Kraft caramel bits or 60 individual caramel candies, unwrapped

• 1/2 t. kosher salt

• 3/4 C semisweet chocolate chips, divided

• Flaky sea salt for finishing\sprinkling 

Prepare your smoker 
Prepare your cooker at 350. In this video we baked these outside in a Traeger Timberline with maple pellets for a lighter tasting smoke, but you can use an oven or whatever you prefer.

Prepare the pan 
Spray a 9x9 cooking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper leaving some overhang on all sides that will act as a handle to remove the brownies after the cook. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray.

Prepare the brownies
In a medium bowl, stir in the brownie mix, melted butter, vanilla and 1/4 cup of the evaporated milk. The consistency of the batter will be very thick.

Press 1 1/2 C of the batter into an even layer in the pan to form the base. 

Place the pan in the smoker and for 7 minutes. The base will set but still be gooey. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Prepare the caramel sauce

Place the caramel bits and remaining 1/2 cup of evaporate milk in a small sauce pan. Heat over medium heat and whisk until silky smooth. Add a pinch of salt and stir.

Pour caramel sauce evenly over baked brownie layer.

Sprinkle 1/c cup of the chocolate chips. 

Crumble and sprinkle the remaining the brownie batter over the brownie base\caramel. You will see the caramel showing through. Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips.

Finish baking brownies and cool

Place the pan in the smoker and cook until the edges are set which will take about 20 minutes.

Remove the pan and place it on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with flake salt.

Allow the brownies to cool to room temperature which will take about 90 minutes.

Cover the pan with plastic film or foil and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up.

Using the parchment paper as handles, remove the brownies from the pan. Cut the brownies into squares.

Serve with a glass of hand cramping cold milk and enjoy the "Best Damn Brownies of Your Life!"