SALTED CARAMELS RECIPE BAREFOOT CONTESSA RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9 x 12 x 1 1/2-inch baking pan.
• Melt the butter, 8 ounces of the chocolate chips and the unsweetened chocolate together in a medium bowl set over simmering water. Allow to cool for 15 minutes. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature. (It is very important to allow the butter to cool before adding the chocolate chips, or the chips will melt and ruin the brownies.).
• In a medium bowl, sift together 1/2 cup of the flour, the baking powder and salt and add to the chocolate mixture. Toss the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate chips and the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour in a medium bowl and add them to the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Don't overbake!
• As soon as the brownies are out of the oven, place the jar of caramel sauce without the lid in a microwave and heat just until it's pourable. Stir until smooth. Drizzle the caramel evenly over the hot brownies and sprinkle with the sea salt. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars.

Steps:

• Use softened unsalted butter to grease an 8x8 pan. Cut two strips of parchment paper to fit the pan, leaving an overhang on each side and buttering each piece. Set aside. Combine sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup, salted butter, and fine sea salt in a 3-quart saucepan. Stirring frequently, cook on medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture starts to boil. Clip on a candy thermometer. Continue cooking and stirring until the temperature reaches 245ºF. (This will take about 30 minutes.) Lower the heat as needed to prevent bubbling over. As soon as the mixture reaches 245ºF, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla bean paste (see note). Immediately pour into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the fleur de sel over the top. Let the caramels set for at least two hours and up to overnight. Lift the caramel out of the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into pieces using kitchen shears. Wrap individual caramels in pieces of waxed paper. Store at room temperature. Note: To make chocolate caramels, omit the vanilla bean paste. Stir together 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract with 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder. Add this mixture plus 3 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate in place of the vanilla bean paste.