Guinness Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240ml) Guinness stout (reduced to ⅓ cup)
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 225g) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (75g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup (175g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder (optional)
- Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
Instructions
- Reduce Guinness to ⅓ cup.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), line an 8×8 pan.
- Melt butter and chocolate, mix with sugar, cocoa, Guinness, eggs, and vanilla.
- Fold in flour, salt, (and baking powder if using).
- Bake 25-30 minutes, cool, and dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Add Icing: Chocolate Ganache
Ganache Icing Ingredients
- 8 oz (225g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped (or chips)
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional, for extra shine and richness)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat the Cream and Guinness: In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream and Guinness. Heat over medium until it just begins to simmer (don’t boil), stirring occasionally.
- Melt the Chocolate: Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour the hot cream-Guinness mixture over the chocolate and let it sit for 1-2 minutes to soften. Stir until smooth. Add butter (if using) and a pinch of salt, stirring until fully incorporated.
- Apply to Brownies: Let the ganache cool slightly until it thickens but is still pourable (about 10-15 minutes). Pour or spread it over the cooled brownies in the pan. Smooth with a spatula. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to set the ganache before cutting.
Tips
- Texture: This ganache will set to a soft, fudgy layer. For a firmer icing, use more chocolate (e.g., 10 oz).
- Flavor Twist: Add a teaspoon of Irish whiskey or vanilla for extra depth.
- Color Variation: If you would like to use this for St Patrick’s Day, add a drop of green food coloring. It can also be used for other occasions like red on Valentine’s Day, pink or yellow for Easter and even orange for Halloween.
