1-Ready to get your hands messy and bake something amazing? Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining an 8″x8″ baking dish to keep things from sticking. This simple step sets the stage for brownies that turn out just right every time.

2-Next, whip up the caramel first it’s the star of the show! Heat the sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes until it melts into a dark amber color. Stir in the butter until it combines smoothly, then add the cream and salt, returning it to the heat for 30 seconds while stirring. Let it cool for 15 minutes before you move on.

3-Now for the brownie batter: Melt the butter and mix it with sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and that optional coffee for an extra kick. Fold in the cocoa, flour, and chocolate disks if you’re using them. Spread half the batter in your prepared dish, pour about 3/4 cup of the cooled caramel over it (but keep it away from the edges), and top with the rest of the batter.

4-Pop it in the oven and bake for 40 minutes until a knife comes out clean from the center. Let it cool for an hour before cutting into 9 squares. For more ideas on chocolate treats, check out our chocolate zucchini bread recipe to expand your baking fun. Overall, this process takes about 30 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to cook, for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, yielding 9 large brownies that are best served warm with ice cream.