Chewy, Salty Peanutty Caramel Brownies
- Vegetable oil, for greasing
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) salted butter, plus more for greasing
- 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups salted skinless peanuts (not dry-roasted)
- For the caramel: Very lightly grease the inside of a 2-cup glass measuring cup with oil.
- Combine the granulated sugar and butter in a small deep saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- (Don't worry if the mixture looks curdled and then separated-it will come together.)
- Cook, stirring, until it looks like dark peanut butter, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring the heavy cream to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan.
- When the butter mixture is the right color, remove from the heat and slowly and very carefully whisk in the hot cream-it will bubble up and steam, so be careful.
- Put the pot back over medium heat, bring the mixture back to a simmer and cook about 1 minute.
- Pour into the prepared measuring cup and cool to room temperature.
- (The caramel can be made the night before and kept, covered, at room temperature.
- You can warm it very briefly in a microwave so that it is pourable, but be careful not to overheat.
- It should not be too loose.)
- For the brownie: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut a piece of foil 9 by 20-inches.
- Butter the corners and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
- Line the pan with the foil so that the excess hangs over at each of the short sides of the pan.
- Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, being careful that the bowl does not touch the water.
- Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until smooth.
- Whisk the eggs, sugars and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Stir the chocolate into the egg mixture using a rubber spatula, and then stir in the flour until just combined.
- Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the peanuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Drizzle the caramel over the top, using a butter knife to swirl it into the batter.
- Coarsely chop the remaining 1/2 cup peanuts and scatter over the top.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Be sure to insert the toothpick in a spot that does not have too much caramel.
- Place on a cooling rack and, while still slightly warm, run a butter knife between the brownie and the long sides of the pan.
- Cool completely, about 1 hour.
- When the brownie has cooled completely, place a lightweight cutting board or a baking rack over the top of the pan.
- Flip and set on the counter.
- Gently pull the pan from the foil and the foil from the pan to remove.
- Gently peel the foil off the brownie.
- Place another lightweight cutting board on top, and flip the brownie right-side-up.
- Slice into 1 1/2-inch squares.
vegetable oil, sugar, butter, heavy cream, butter, bittersweet chocolate, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, flour, peanuts
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chewy-salty-peanutty-caramel-brownies.html (may not work)