Brownies with Stout Beer
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Instead of the usual artificially-colored-green treats for St. Patrick’s Day, try whipping up these fantastic, easy Dark Chocolate Stout Brownies from scratch. Inspired by a recipe from Bon Appétit magazine, this brownie recipe’s secret ingredient is a St. Patrick’s Day must-have, a rich dark stout beer (I prefer Guinness but you could use anything you like.) The secret: reducing the Guinness on the stovetop until its flavors are concentrated. As a result, these brownies are rich, decadent, and gooey. The glaze is definitely gilding the lily, but why not?

If you’ve never reduced anything, have no fear. Just simmer the Guinness on the stovetop for 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it because, depending on the power of your stove, it can evaporate quickly. Once it’s to half its original level, it’s done. I poured mine into a measuring cup just to be sure it was halved.

Chocolate brownies

The brownie recipe is pretty much my fool-proof One Bowl Brownie recipe. There’s none better, so don’t bother trying to find one! For the glaze, you combine the reduced Guinness (which is now more of a syrup) with more chocolate and butter and stir until totally glossy and smooth. Is there anything more soothing than pouring glossy chocolate glaze on more chocolate? I don’t think so.

I am warning you, these Dark Chocolate Stout Brownies are seriously rich. I recommend serving a tiny square with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to balance it out. I am famous for never declaring anything too rich or too decadent, but these brownies take the cake.

Brownies with Stout Glaze

Brownies with Stout Beer
2.45 from 9 votes
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Dark Chocolate Stout Brownies

These brownies get their moisture from a dark stout beer. It gets reduced to concentrate its flavors and almost becomes a syrup. Topped with a glaze made from the remaining stout, these brownies are decadence itself.

Course Dessert
Cuisine British
Keyword baking with beer, brownies with beer, dark chocolate stout brownies, st patrick's day brownies, stout brownies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 24 brownies
Author Amanda

Ingredients

Brownies

  • 1 cup stout beer like Guinness
  • 1 and 1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
  • 12 tablespoons of butter cut into pieces
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 3 eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Glaze

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup reduced stout

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x9x2" metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2" overhang. Bring stout to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 12 minutes. Let cool. Reserve 1/4 cup stout.
  2. Combine 12 ounces of chocolate chips and butter in a large glass bowl and microwave until melted in 30 second intervals, stirring after each.
  3. Add eggs, stirring to combine.
  4. Add vanilla.
  5. Add sugar, whisking to combine.
  6. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup stout from pan.
  7. Gently fold in flour and 1 1/4 tsp. salt.
  8. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  9. Bake brownies until a few crumbs cling to a tester, about 35-40 minutes.
  10. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 20 minutes. Put remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave until melted, in 30 second intervals, stirring after each.
  11. Add reserved 1/4 cup reduced stout, remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, and 1/4 tsp. salt; whisk until well blended.
  12. Pour warm glaze over brownies. Let stand at room temperature until glaze is set, about an hour.
  13. Using parchment paper overhang, lift brownie from pan; cut into squares.

Chocolate Brownies