BROWNIES WITH SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• For brownies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8x8x2" baking pan with nonstick spray. Dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess. Place butter, unsweetened chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until melted. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whisk flour, espresso powder, kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder in another medium bowl; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until pale and thick, about 2 minutes; beat in vanilla. Fold in warm chocolate mixture, then dry ingredients, just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake brownies until a tester inserted into the center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, 20-25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let brownies cool in pan. Cut brownies into 16 squares.
• For caramel sauce and assembly:
• Bring sugar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to mediumhigh and cook without stirring, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush, until sugar is a deep amber color, 5-8 minutes. Remove caramel from heat.
• Add cream and butter (mixture will bubble vigorously) and whisk to combine. Let cool slightly in pan.
• Drizzle caramel sauce over brownies and sprinkle with sea salt.
• DO AHEAD: Brownies can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep at room temperature. Caramel sauce can be made 1 week ahead. Let cool. Cover and chill. Reheat before using.