Oh my gosh, you guys, I’ve been obsessed with these mini salted caramel brownie bites ever since I first pulled them out of the oven. Picture this: rich, fudgy brownies that practically melt in your mouth, with a surprise gooey caramel center and just the right sprinkle of sea salt to balance all that sweetness. Absolute perfection in one bite!
What I love most is how ridiculously easy they are to make. Even when I was just starting out with baking (and trust me, I had some disastrous kitchen moments), this recipe never failed me. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool enough so you don’t burn your tongue diving in! They’re the perfect little treat for parties, last-minute gifts, or when you just need a quick chocolate fix.
Print
Irresistible Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites in 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 bites 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Mini salted caramel brownie bites are rich, fudgy treats with a gooey caramel center and a hint of sea salt.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 12 soft caramel candies
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a mini muffin tin with liners.
- Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Mix melted butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs and vanilla.
- Gradually fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
- Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling halfway. Press a caramel into each.
- Top with remaining batter and sprinkle with sea salt.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until set. Cool before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs for better mixing.
- Do not overbake to keep centers gooey.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Ingredients for Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Alright, let’s gather our goodies! For these irresistible bites, you’ll need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour: spooned and leveled, not packed
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder: Dutch-processed gives the richest flavor
- 1/2 tsp baking powder: that little lift we need
- 1/4 tsp salt: balances all that sweetness
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted: cooled just slightly so it doesn’t cook the eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar: plain white sugar works perfectly here
- 2 large eggs: room temperature blends smoother
- 1 tsp vanilla extract: the good stuff makes a difference
- 12 soft caramel candies: I use the classic square ones
- 1/2 tsp sea salt: flaky Maldon salt is my favorite for topping
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
No all-purpose flour? Gluten-free 1:1 blends work great here. For dairy-free, swap in your favorite plant-based butter. Those caramel squares can be replaced with caramel bits if that’s what you’ve got. And if you’re out of sea salt, any coarse salt will do, just use a lighter hand with table salt.
How to Make Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Okay, friends, let’s get baking! The magic happens fast with these little beauties. First things first, preheat that oven to 350°F and line your mini muffin tin. Trust me, you’ll want those liners ready because this batter comes together quicker than you can say “chocolate emergency!”
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start by whisking your dry ingredients, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, in one bowl. In another bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar until they’re best friends. Add those eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, stirring just until combined. Now the fun part: gently fold those dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Don’t overmix here, a few flour streaks are totally fine!
Spoon about a tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup (a cookie scoop makes this ridiculously easy). Press a caramel square right into the center of each one, they’ll sink a bit, that’s normal. Top with another spoonful of batter, sprinkle with sea salt, and into the oven they go for 12-15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the tops look set but the centers are still a bit jiggly.
Tips for Perfect Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Here’s my golden rule: underbaking slightly is better than overbaking! They’ll continue cooking as they cool. Use a toothpick test, it should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter. Pro tip: let them cool completely in the pan before removing, or you might lose some precious caramel. And if you’re feeling fancy, warm them slightly before serving, that caramel gets extra ooey-gooey!
Equipment You’ll Need
Listen, I’m all about keeping it simple here, but there are a few must-haves for these brownie bites. You’ll need a mini muffin tin (of course!), some paper liners to keep things neat, two mixing bowls (one for dry, one for wet ingredients), a whisk, a rubber spatula, and basic measuring cups and spoons. That’s it, no fancy gadgets required!
Serving and Storing Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Oh, the joy of serving these little beauties! I always pop a few in the microwave for about 10 seconds right before serving, just enough to make that caramel center turn gloriously molten again. They’re heavenly paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into all the nooks and crannies. For parties, I arrange them on a pretty platter with extra sea salt flakes sprinkled on top, makes everyone feel fancy!
Storage is super simple too. Just toss them (gently!) in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh for about 3 days, though let’s be real, they rarely last that long in my house! If you do have leftovers, you can freeze them for up to 2 months, just thaw at room temperature when the craving hits.
Nutritional Information
Each little brownie bite packs about 120 calories, with 6g of that heavenly fat we love in brownies. They’ve got 16g of carbohydrates (12g from sugar, worth every bite!) and 2g of protein. Keep in mind these numbers might shift slightly depending on your exact ingredients, especially if you go wild with extra caramel!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze these mini salted caramel brownie bites? Absolutely! They freeze beautifully for up to 2 months. Just wrap them individually in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container with parchment between layers. Thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy, or pop one straight from the freezer into the microwave for 15 seconds if you can’t wait!
How do I keep the caramel from getting too hard? The trick is in the baking time, pull them out when the centers are still slightly jiggly. Also, warming them briefly before serving brings that caramel back to its gooey glory. If your caramels do harden, don’t panic! Just microwave the whole batch for about 10 seconds before serving.
Can I use homemade caramel instead of store-bought candies? You sure can! Just make sure your homemade caramel is soft enough to stay gooey after baking. I recommend using about 1/2 teaspoon per bite, too much and it might leak out during baking. The candies are just easier for consistent results!
Why did my caramel sink to the bottom? This happens if your batter is too thin or you didn’t fully cover the caramel with batter. Next time, make sure to press the caramel in firmly and spoon enough batter on top to completely encase it. A thicker batter helps too, don’t overmix!
Why You’ll Love These Mini Salted Caramel Brownie Bites
Listen, I don’t blame you if you’re already reaching for your mixing bowl, these little bites are seriously addictive! Here’s why they’ve become my go-to treat:
- Quick magic: From bowl to oven in under 20 minutes? Yes please! They’re faster than driving to the bakery.
- Party superstars: I can’t tell you how many times these have saved me when surprise guests show up. Everyone goes wild for that caramel surprise!
- Perfectly balanced: That sprinkle of sea salt cuts through the richness so each bite tastes even more chocolatey.
- No-fail recipe: Even my baking-challenged cousin nailed these on her first try. They’re just that forgiving.
- Portion perfection: Tiny but mighty, you get all the satisfaction without that post-brownie guilt. (Okay, maybe just a little.)
Trust me, once these hit your dessert rotation, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them! If you are looking for other small treats, check out this guide on family tastes for more inspiration.