Salted Caramel Bacon Brownies

Whaaat?!

Yes, these salted caramel bacon brownies are low in carbs and sugar-free.

I made these for our monthly bloggers’ ingredient challenge; this month’s ingredient is caramel and I’m super excited by the prospect of a low carb, sugar-free caramel.

Let’s get to business:
Rich, extra-dark brownies with bits of salty bacon, topped with a layer of fudge-like caramel and finished off with salted caramel cheesecake frosting.
#DiedAndGoneToHeaven

[recipe title=”Salted Caramel Bacon Brownies” servings=”18″ time=”45 minutes” difficulty=”easy”]

You will need:

{For the brownies}
1 batch brownie batter {NOTE: I used 85% dark chocolate for these to make them extra bitter and chocolaty}
1/2 cup bacon bits {crispy bacon, chopped into small nibs}

{For the caramel}
3/8 cup butter {mind-boggling I know, but basically it’s 1/4 cup and another half a quarter cup}
9 tbsp. erythritol {low carb sweetener}
3/4 cup cream
1/2 tsp xantham gum
1 tsp ground Himalayan salt

{For the caramel cheesecake frosting}
1/3 batch of caramel sauce {above}
200 g full-fat softened cream cheese

Prepare the brownie batter and add in the bacon bits at the end.
Spoon the mixture into 18 cupcake papers and bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes.

To prepare the caramel sauce, heat the butter and erythritol in a large sauce pan {it will bubble and spew a lot, hence the bigger pot} until boiling.
Let it boil for a minute or 2 to get a deep golden caramel.
Remove from the heat and add in the cream while whisking. {Be careful, it will bubble furiously!}
Sprinkle in the xantham gum and salt while whisking and return to the heat.
Let it continue to boil and thicken for another couple of minutes.

Reserve a third of the caramel for the frosting and continue to whisk this third as it cools, to prevent it from crystalising.

While the brownies are still hot from the oven, spoon hot caramel on top.

To prepare the cheesecake frosting, mix the cooled caramel into the cream cheese.

Pipe the cheesecake frosting onto the cooled caramel brownies and finish with a sprinkle of ground Himalayan salt.

[/recipe]

I recommend keeping these in the fridge to keep its fudge-like texture, unless you find yourself in a cooler climate.

These are the ultimate grown-up brownies!
{You could also bake them in a tray like normal brownies, with a layer of caramel, followed by the frosting. Slice into squares.}

I’d say they’re also the ultimate ‘man’ treat!

Bacon – check!
Salted caramel – check!
Extra-dark chocolate – check!

Another great plus is that you won’t have to share these with the kids {the struggle is real…}, unless your kids have a liking for dark, slightly bitter chocolate.
They might want to lick off the salted caramel cheesecake frosting though… {So perhaps make some extra frosting for them!}