Sweet and Salty Brownies {Love in a Jar}

I love gifts in a jar, so simple and easy for the recipient to just dump the contents into a bowl and make.  This isn't one of those.  These Brownies In a Jar are cooked in the jar and served ready-to-eat.  A great gift idea for Valentine's Day - or for any reason, really. I found this over at Angela's Adventures and can't wait to make them!

1 Box German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 Cup Finely Chopped Pecans
1/3 Cup Evaporated Milk + 1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk
1/2 Cup Butter, Melted
40 Whole Caramels, unwrapped
1 Sleeve Ritz Crackers
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
Sea Salt for sprinkling

In a medium sized bowl, stir together the cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk and melted butter.  The mixture will be very thick.

 

Wash and dry any size jars that you'd like to use.  7 medium sized jars work great.

 

Grease the jars and then drop a large spoonful of dough into each jar.

 

Use your fingers to press the dough down into the jars. 

 

Bake the jars in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes (they will not be done but they will bake longer in just a few more steps). 

While they are baking, melt 40 ('ish) caramels with 1/2 cup evaporated milk, in a glass bowl in the microwave. Crush up 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers. 

After you pull the jars out of the oven, sprinkle the Ritz crackers over the top of the brownie mixture. 

Next, drizzle the melted caramels over the top. 

 Lastly, sprinkle on 1 cup of chocolate chips. 

 

Bake for another 15 minutes and then remove from the oven to cool.  Sprinkle a touch of Sea Salt over each brownie and allow them to cool thoroughly before putting the lid on.  

Decorate your lid with a pretty ribbon and maybe attach a  sweet note. 

Give as a gift or grab a spoon and enjoy!