Spiced Guinness Brownies

June 14, 2013

spiced Guinness brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

With Father's Day almost upon us, I thought it only appropriate to share a jaunty, masculine recipe. Of course it's perfectly okay for ladies to enjoy their stout, too I do, despite my mom's clucking whenever I reach for a Guinness at summer get-togethers.

Usually for Father's Day I pay tribute to my dad's memory by making something laced with his beloved peanut butter. This year however, with the wonderful crop of summer ales and stouts from the local microbrewery, I decided to go a different route. My dad loved wine, but even he enjoyed the occasional dark, flavourful, elixir. Unfortunately my stout stash had been depleted before I could use it for baking. (I blame me.) So instead of using a local brew, I went with classic Guinness. Thank goodness for backup.

spiced Guinness brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

When I enjoy a glass of wine, I long to play the cello (someday I shall!). When I drink exotic cocktails, I listen to Nouvelle Vague and want to learn how to tango (with Tom Hiddleston) and speak Portuguese & chill out on a beach in Ibiza. But when I drink an cold dark stout, I want to slip on a comfy summer dress and equally comfy ballet flats, sit on the porch at twilight and hang out with my nearest & dearest friends. A flock of thirty-somethings listening to Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and Dave Matthews Band (circa 1994), wondering how we're suddenly 30-something.

These brownies are kind of like that - comfortable, unpretentious + capable of keeping secrets (like how many you're about to inhale, and what you did inhale in your college dorm). They are slightly on the "cakey" side, but I think that's because I over-thought things and overmixed the batter. The Guinness flavour is definitely noticeable; the brownies kind of taste the way a chocolate stout might taste if it were edible (and doused with sugar). You're welcome. :)


To all the dads out there, especially the thirty-something new ones, Happy Father's Day! xo

spiced Guinness brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine


Spiced Guinness Brownies
makes about 25-30 brownies

ingredients
1 cup Guinness (if you don't have Guinness on hand, any strong stout will do)
10 ounces dark chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli's 60% cacao chips)
1 cup (that's 2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats (optional - it really didn't do anything for me)

method
In a small saucepan, bring the Guinness to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the Guinness is reduced to half the original amount (you should be left with 1/2 a cup). Remove the pan from the heat and set the Guinness aside to cool.

Create a double boiler: Fill a saucepan with about 1/2 inch of water and bring it to a simmer. Find a large heat-proof bowl that sits snugly on top of the saucepan - make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Place the chocolate chips and butter into the bowl and place the bowl over the simmering pot of water. Stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the the simmering water and set aside until it reaches room temperature (about 15 minutes).

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with foil, leaving a slight overhang around the edges. Butter the foil.

Pour the cool chocolate/butter mixture into a large mixing bowl {Note: If the bowl you melted the chocolate in is large enough to hold the rest of the ingredients, feel free to keep using it). Whisk in the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and 1/2 cup of the reduced Guinness. Add the eggs and egg yolk one at a time - mixing just until each egg is incorporated. Add the flour and and oats - use a large rubber spatula to gently fold into the chocolate mixture. To avoid "cakey" brownies, try not to overmix the batter.

Pour the batter into prepared pan, use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and place onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before removing the brownies from the pan. Once the brownies are cool, use the foil overhang to gently lift them from the pan. If desired, garnish with sifted confectioners' sugar.

adapted from Bon Appétit


spiced Guinness brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

30 comments:

  1. What fantastic brownies! Delightfully spicy.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. This sounds (and looks) amazingly delicious. The Guiness must give these brownies a nice surprise. Great combination!

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  3. There's nothing better than DMB circa 1994! Yes and more yes :). Love these brownies, they look so rich and chocolatey!

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  4. Spices and with Guinness. Now this would be a treat for even the non-fathers out there. Like...the mothers :)

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  5. I have a similar brownie that I make with Kona Brewing Stout... Love the spices you have added here. Though if I made these this weekend, I'm not sure how sharing I'd like to be!! ;)

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  6. The perfect Father's Day treat! Love your post and the thought of being swept away -a good brownie can do that or maybe a trip to Brazil ;-)

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  7. I don't enjoy drinking Guinness, but I've had pretty good success with it in my baking. What a lovely tribute to your father.

    Oh, to be thirty-something again....

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  8. lol masculine brownie eh?
    ok, I'm in, as long as we can eat it. lol.

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  9. I love, love, LOVE Guiness in desserts! I am SO making these this weekend!

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  10. Just fell in love with those brownies!

    Nouvelle Vague are good and learning Portuguese is easy. Trust me, I know it (I'm portuguese). Learning Greek it's a whole different story (and something that I'm doing at the mo).

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  11. I love this so :) When I met my husband, the two things in his bare refrigerator: a bowl of cherries and Guinness. He would swoon over these brownies. If men swooned, that is ;)

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  12. Love brownies, absolutely adore guinnes, so these shouldn't be so bad:)

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  13. Your recipes are wonderful. I would love for you to share them with us at foodieportal.com. Foodieportal.com is a new food sharing site, we're no photography snobs, we're just foodies and we actually try hard to promote your pictures. At foodieportal.com all your food pictures will get accepted so I really hope you come and join us.

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  14. These look so lovely and seductive, and I love the "secret" ingredient. I never thought to use Guinness in brownies, but now that you mention it, it sounds like a match made in heaven!

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  15. These brownies will win any man's heart! Love the spices with Guinness!

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  16. Deliciously dark brownies would be perfect for any occasion! I think I could use a few of these right about now :) .

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  17. Love how you pay tribute to your Dad! I am sure he watching over you. Anything with stout in it is divine. These brownies look and sound amazing. Pinning now.

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  18. Oh my, these brownies are nothing short of WOW!! Lucky dad!

    P.S. I want to be at that party!!! Call me! I'll bring my Dave Matthews albums...Fiona's, too! Can we please crank up some Nirvana, as well!?! :-D In my head, this party is the best party ever! hahaha

    P.S. I played the violin for 5 years at one of the best music schools on the Balkans... violin, cello...what's the diff!? ;-D

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  19. @Kate: You played the violin! I hope you're still playing!! We love the same music - no wonder we get along so well. Yes, yes, you're always invited to any party. :D

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  20. What perfect "dad" brownies, and what a lovely post. Next year - peanut butter and Guinness :)

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  21. Great brownies, I am sure your Dad (or any dad) would have loved these!

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  22. Great choice!!! I think your dad would be happy to eat these,,, i know mine would

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  23. A perfect Father's Day treat! Thanks for posting!

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  24. Hope you had a wonderful Father's Day. These brownies would make any day quite special!

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  25. Have you ever tried listening to Fado music (Portuguese folk music)? My husband and I really enjoy it--we have a Pandora station set to "Ana Moura", a Portuguese artist. The music is so relaxing and so nice to listen to--always while we're having wine but I'm sure exotic cocktails would be just as nice. Brings us back to 2005 when we visited the lovely country. :)

    Love these brownies!

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  26. @Jean: Thanks for the music recommendation! I'm always on the lookout for new Pandora stations. (:

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  27. Guinness and chocolate together do seem perfect for Father's Day! I bet my dad (and I) would love these, too :)

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  28. I just love reading your posts :) these brownies are genius! the combination of guinness, chocolate, and cinnamon sounds lovely!

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  29. Is it wrong to want one immediately after breakfast?

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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