Chocolate Stout Brownies

September 4, 2014

The NFL regular season kicks off tonight, and there's no better reason to bake up a batch of brownies--with beer! (Because I'm almost certain beer is the official beverage of football season.) I never would have guessed, but somehow beer enhances the flavor of chocolate; it makes it deeper, more intense. Besides the beer that's in the batter, a thick layer of stout-spiked ganache makes these the richest, fudgiest brownies I've ever tasted.  

Chocolate Stout Brownies
1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
16 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped and divided
1 cup plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter (about 2¼ sticks)
1½ cups sugar 
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1½ tsp kosher salt, divided

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x9x2" metal baking pan with foil, leaving a 2" overhang. Spray foil with baking spray (Pam with flour or similar).

Bring stout to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook until reduced to ½ cup, about 12 minutes, then allow it to cool. Reserve ¼ cup stout. Stir 12 ounces of the chocolate and 1 cup butter in a medium metal bowl and set it over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water). Whisk sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend, then gradually whisk in chocolate mixture, then ¼ cup stout. Fold in flour and 1¼ teaspoons salt. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake brownies until surface begins to crack and a tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 35–40 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 20 minutes. In a microwave safe bowl, heat remaining 4 ounces of chocolate on HIGH setting in 30-second intervals until melted and smooth, then add reserved ¼ cup reduced stout, remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt; whisk until well blended.
Pour warm glaze over brownies and let set at room temperature for about 40 minutes. Using foil overhang, lift the brownies from pan and cut into small squares.

2 comments:

  1. Those are the fudgiest looking brownies I have ever seen! And knowing your culinary skills, I am sure they tasted GRAND!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm telling you, these were the richest I've ever tasted. I'd definitely serve with some good vanilla bean ice cream next time.

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xo,
Angelica

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