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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Dessert Recipes

    Skillet Caramel Brownies

    Published: Dec 22, 2023 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 25 Comments

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    Branded image of Skillet Caramel Brownies for pinterest.
    Branded split image of skillet caramel brownies.
    Caramel Brownies branded image for pinterest.
    Split image of skillet caramel brownies for social media.

    Skillet Caramel Brownies are a decadent dessert of rich chocolate brownies and a center layer of gooey caramel. This delicious recipe tastes amazing satisfying all those sweet cravings and are no ordinary baked brownies.

    Need more recipes for your dessert cuisine menu? For brownies try our Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie or if it’s caramel you’re after try our Caramel Apple Dump Cake.

    Branded image of skillet caramel brownies.
    Jump to:
    • Why we love Skillet Caramel Brownies
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • How to make Caramel Brownies
    • Adaptations and variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Our favorite tools to make Skillet Caramel Brownies!
    • Other Related Cast Iron Dessert Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    Why we love Skillet Caramel Brownies

    If ‘because it’s brownies and caramel’ isn’t a sufficient reason, these caramel brownies are a family favorite, no, a beloved family recipe.

    It’s extra special because my grandma used to make these for the family and it was something we all looked forward to.

    This isn’t your average boxed brownie mix recipe. Her brownie recipe starts with a German chocolate cake mix, adds evaporated milk, melted butter, and chopped walnuts.

    The chopped walnuts give the brownies a bit of a crunchy texture. In the center of the brownies lies a luscious layer of caramel sauce.

    Brownies served with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Ingredients to make caramel brownies: caramel candies or bits, evaporated milk, semi sweet chocolate chips, German chocolate cake mix, butter, and walnuts.
    • Cake Mix — use your favorite brand of German chocolate cake mix.
    • Caramel — you can use either chewy caramel candies like Kraft caramels, those individually wrapped squares, or caramel bits.
    • Pantry Staples — evaporated milk, semi sweet chocolate chips, and chopped walnuts.
    • Butter — we recommend using salted butter for greasing the pan and unsalted for the batter, but either will work

    How to make Caramel Brownies

    Butter greased a cast iron skillet for baking.
    Step 1
    The cake mix, walnuts, evaporated milk, and melted butter in a pink bowl.
    Step 2
    The matter has been made for the brownie recipe.
    Step 3

    Step 1 — Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch skillet with the softened butter.
    Step 2 — Add the dry cake mix, 1 cup of evaporated milk, melted butter, and the walnuts to a medium size bowl.
    Step 3 — Mix everything together. The batter will be thick and kind of coarse looking.

    Half of the brownie batter has been added to the cast iron skillet.
    Step 4
    Caramel bits and evaporated milk in a saute pan to melt to make the sauce.
    Step 5
    The partially baked brownies in a cast iron skillet.
    Step 6

    Step 4 — Add half the batter to the prepared skillet, smooth it out evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
    Step 5— While the brownies are baking, in a medium sauce pan melt the caramels while mixing in โ…“ cup evaporated milk. Stir until well combined creating a thickened sauce.
    Step 6 — After baking for 15 minutes, remove the brownies from the oven.

    Chocolate chips sprinkled over the brownies.
    Step 7
    Caramel sauce has been spooned over the chocolate chips.
    Step 8
    Dollops of the remaining brownie batter being spooned over the caramel sauce.
    Step 9

    Step 7 — Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the half-baked brownies.
    Step 8 — Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the chocolate chips, smoothing it out creating a complete layer.
    Step 9 — Spoon the remaining brownie batter on top of the caramel layer in dollops. There’s no need to smooth it out. Bake for 25 minutes. Once done, allow it to completely cool before serving.

    Skillet Caramel Brownies freshly baked from the oven.

    Adaptations and variations

    • Cake mix — you could use a chocolate cake mix, devil’s food, or even a dark chocolate cake mix.
    • Chocolate chips — Swap out the semi-sweet for milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
    • Salt — For salted caramel, sprinkle a bit of kosher salt or flaky sea salt over the caramel before adding the rest of the brownie batter.
    • Caramel drizzle — you’ll have a tablespoon or two of evaporated milk left in the can, so reserve a couple of tablespoons of the caramel sauce when creating that layer. Add the remaining evaporated milk to that leftover caramel to thin it. This will make it perfect for drizzling over the cooked brownies, especially when topped with vanilla ice cream.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I omit the walnuts?

    Absolutely, they are not crucial to the recipe.

    Can I use my own homemade caramel sauce instead of store bought caramel?

    Yes!

    Can I make the caramel sauce in the microwave?

    Yes, use a microwave safe bowl and on medium power, melt the caramels into the evaporated milk, stopping frequently to stir.

    How long will leftover brownies last?

    Should you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. You can serve them chilled straight from the fridge or sit them out, allowing them to come to room temperature before serving.

    Can I use a different baking dish to make these other than a skillet?

    Yes, you can. Use a 9x13, 8x8, or 9x9 baking dish. Complete the recipe in the prepared baking dish the same way as you would in the skillet, including greasing it before adding the batter.

    A section of caramel brownies removed from the skillet to show the inside.
    Branded image of Skillet Caramel Brownies with caramel and chocolate chips garnishing.

    Our favorite tools to make Skillet Caramel Brownies!

    Image of Stargazer 10 Inch Cast Iron Skillet

    Stargazer 10 Inch Cast Iron Skillet

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    Buy Now →

    Other Related Cast Iron Dessert Recipes

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      Skillet Cherry Chocolate Cake
    • White almond cake on a cutting board in front of a fire with slices missing to show inside texture.
      Mary Todd Lincoln's White Almond Cake
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      Skillet Cherry Clafoutis 
    • Sliced wedge of the cookie topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
      Skillet Snickerdoodle Cookie

    If you tried these Skillet Caramel Brownies or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    A section of caramel brownies removed from the skillet to show the inside.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 21 votes

    Skillet Caramel Brownies

    Skillet Caramel Brownies are a decadent dessert of rich chocolate brownies and a center layer of gooey caramel.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 855kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 10-inch cast iron skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon salted butter softened
    • 15.25 oz German chocolate cake mix
    • 1 cup evaporated milk
    • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
    • 1 ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 1 cup walnuts chopped
    • 11 oz caramels squares or bits
    • ⅓ cup evaporated milk
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch skillet with the softened butter.
    • Add the dry cake mix, 1 cup of evaporated milk, melted butter, and the walnuts to a medium size bowl. Mix everything together. The batter will be thick and kind of coarse looking.
    • Add half the batter to the prepared skillet, smooth it out evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
    • While the brownies are baking, in a medium sauce pan melt the caramels while mixing in โ…“ cup evaporated milk. Stir until everything has combined to create a thickened sauce.
    • After baking for 15 minutes, remove the brownies from the oven and evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the half-baked brownies.
    • Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the chocolate chips, smoothing it out creating a complete layer..
    • Spoon the remaining brownie batter on top of the caramel layer in dollops. There’s no need to smooth it out.
    • Bake for 25 minutes. Once done, allow it to completely cool before serving.

    Notes

    Make a caramel drizzle.
    You’ll have a tablespoon or two of evaporated milk left in the can, so reserve a couple of tablespoons of the caramel sauce when creating that layer. Add the remaining evaporated milk to that leftover caramel to thin it. This will make it perfect for drizzling over the cooked brownies, especially when topped with vanilla ice cream.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 855kcal | Carbohydrates: 93g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 580IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 5mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 21 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Julia

      March 03, 2024 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite brownie recipe! We love to make it for speci occassions and it always comes out incredible!

      Reply
    2. Janie

      March 03, 2024 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      I saw caramel and that's all you had for me to make these! And they're brownies too, I'm soo going to bake these!

      Reply
    3. Sky

      March 03, 2024 at 9:22 am

      5 stars
      First time ever making skillet brownies and I'm hooked! Love this recipe!!

      Reply
    4. suja md

      March 03, 2024 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      stunned with adorable caramels, Love this recipe.

      Reply
    5. Dina and Bruce

      March 03, 2024 at 8:17 am

      5 stars
      We made these when we were out of town at an air b n b and just wanted to use easy to find ingredients. Wow, these were amazing!!

      Reply
    6. Ben

      February 26, 2024 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      Man, I haven't tried one of your recipes yet that wasn't amazing. Made these last night, and I'm looking forward to finishing them off when the fam isn't looking. LOL

      Reply
    7. TAYLER ROSS

      January 25, 2024 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      I was craving something sweet last night so I made these brownies. OMG were they delicious! Perfectly soft and chewy!

      Reply
    8. dana

      January 24, 2024 at 9:03 am

      5 stars
      These were so delicious! They didn't last long at allโ€”absolutely devoured, and a handful of people asked for the recipe ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    9. Alphabet

      January 16, 2024 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      Your pictures, oh man the picture of the brownies, look incredible. I am sooooooooooooo drooling over the pictures!!

      Reply
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    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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