Description
Indulge in the ultimate Craving Caramel Brownie Pie, a decadent dessert featuring a buttery pie crust filled with rich brownie layers and luscious gooey caramel. This easy-to-make pie combines the fudgy texture of brownies with the smooth sweetness of caramel for a crowd-pleasing treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust
- 1 pre-made pie shell or pie dough
Caramel Layer
- 11 ounces caramel bits or candies (e.g., Kraft baking caramels)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Brownie Batter
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the pie.
- Prepare Pie Crust: If using pie dough instead of a pre-made shell, roll it out evenly and place it in your pie pan, pressing down gently on the sides.
- Melt Caramel: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine caramel bits and heavy cream. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and continue heating in 30-second increments, stirring in between until completely melted. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
- Mix Sugars and Butter: In a large bowl, mix melted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar using a hand or stand mixer for about 1 minute until smooth and combined.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Incorporate the eggs, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt into the sugar mixture. Mix well, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl for even blending.
- Add Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and mix just until combined, scraping down the bowl again to ensure everything is fully integrated.
- Layer Brownie Batter: Spread half of the brownie batter evenly over the prepared pie crust, creating the first layer.
- Add Caramel Layer: Reserve a few tablespoons of the melted caramel for topping. Pour the remaining caramel evenly over the brownie batter layer.
- Top with Remaining Brownie Batter: Spoon the remaining brownie batter over the caramel layer as evenly as possible, allowing some blending for a marbled effect.
- Even Out Layers: Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread and cover the caramel layer with brownie batter, ensuring the caramel is mostly covered.
- Bake the Pie: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean indicating doneness.
- Cool and Garnish: Allow the pie to cool completely before drizzling the reserved caramel over the top. Optionally, sprinkle with a pinch of salt to enhance the caramel flavor before serving.
Notes
- Using a pre-made pie shell saves time but homemade pie dough can be used for a more rustic taste.
- Microwaving caramel bits in increments helps prevent burning and ensures smooth melting.
- Scraping down the bowl during mixing ensures even distribution of ingredients.
- Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so start checking around 50 minutes.
- Allow the pie to cool fully to set the layers and make slicing easier.
- Sprinkling a little sea salt on top balances the sweetness of the caramel.
