Dulce De Leche Brownies

With my curiosity on Dulce De Leche piqued, I had to try making it in the microwave...I'm pleased to report that it *is* possible, but it smells funny (think scalding milk) and it is very important to make sure to use a deep steep sided bowl so that when the condensed milk is heating up and getting all frothy and bubbly, it doesn't overflow the bowl and get your microwave all messy.

Anyway, with the excess Duce De Leche around, I had to figure out what to do with it, so I used it to make Dulce De Leche filled Brownies. The recipe is adapted from Mrs. Fields Cookie Book.

Ingredients
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
2 teaspoons kahlua or other coffee liquor
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Dulce De Leche, made from 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, warmed to ensure it is spreadable.

Method:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan (or line with foil and grease that for easier removal and cleanup post baking).

In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and 1/2 cup butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Beat eggs in a large bowl on high speed until they thicken slightly. Add sugar slowly. Dissolve coffee granules in the vanilla and kahlua, then add to the egg mixture and mix well. Add the chocolate-butter mixture, and beat on medium until uniformly brown. Add the flour and blend at low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

Pour half the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Smooth top. Bake fifteen to twenty minutes, or until the top is firm.

Spread warm Dulce De Leche evenly over the top of the baked brownie layer. Pour the remaining brownie mixture over the caramel, smoothing the top. Bake an additional twenty-five to thirty minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes cleanly out of the top brownie layer.

Cool the brownies in the pan, then cut into squares (or triangles - I found these are very very rich).

Serves 16 or 32, depending on whether you slice the squares into triangles or not.