Espresso Martini Brownies

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Brownies made grown up, these Espresso Martini Brownies hit the spot. You will love these for a night in with your friends, or to take to a dinner party (when you’re told not to bring anything). I used Coffee liqueur for the frosting, but you can use anything similar. You could use Bailey’s, alternative coffee liqueurs, or simply sub for cold coffee for an alcohol free variation.

The brownies themselves are super simple, dense and fudgy and get packed with chocolate chunks. After baking and cooling, whip up a super simple frosting made with some sort of coffee or coffee liqueur! Add some cocoa powder for decoration and you’re good to go!

For these brownies, we rely heavily on the melted butter and light brown sugar to give the fudgy texture and super shiny topping. You could make these for a bake sale – and the recipe is easily doubled. They keep well in an airtight container for a few days. That said, they don’t last long if you’ve got lots of happy hungry mouths in the house!

WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THE BEST BROWNIES, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. Quality Ingredients: Always use high-quality ingredients in your brownie recipe. This includes using good quality chocolate, cocoa powder, and fresh eggs. It will make a noticeable difference in the taste and texture of the brownies.
2. Don’t Overmix: When combining the ingredients, be gentle and avoid overmixing the batter. Overmixing can lead to a denser and tougher texture. Mix until the ingredients are just combined.
3. Proper Pan Size: Use the recommended pan size mentioned in the recipe. Using a smaller or larger pan can affect the baking time and the texture of the brownies. For fudgy and moist brownies, an 8×8-inch square baking pan is usually recommended.
4. Do Not Overbake: Keep a close eye on the brownies while they are baking and avoid overbaking them. A slightly underbaked brownie will be fudgy and moist, while an overbaked one can turn out dry. Insert a toothpick into the center – if it comes out with a few moist crumbs, the brownies are done.
5. Let Them Cool: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving. This helps them to set and ensures that they hold their shape. It also allows the flavors to develop fully.
6. Experiment with Additions: Feel free to get creative with your brownie recipe by changing up the chocolate chips/chocolate chunks, or by adding nuts or fruit. Just make sure not to overload the batter, as it may affect the texture.

Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to baking brownies. Don’t be afraid to make tweaks and adjustments to the recipe to suit your preferences. You can totally shift the frosting quantity for more or less, just do what suits you! 

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED for my Espresso Martini Brownies

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for this bake. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. Also, I use a standard 8 inch square tin for almost all of my traybake recipes for ease. If you do want to convert to 9 inch, you’ll need to play with the quantities a little or they will be too thin. To line a square baking tin, cut two pieces of baking paper that are just narrower than the width of the tin (less than 8 inches wide). Then place one on top of the other in opposite directions, so that all four edges of the tin are covered. This will make removing the bake so much easier! 

• Dark/Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Melted
• Unsalted Butter
• Light Brown Soft Sugar
• Granulated Sugar
• Instant Coffee
• Medium Free Range Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• Plain (All Purpose) Flour
• Powdered Sugar
• Coffee Liqueur (Optional)
• Powdered Sugar

TIPS FOR THE BEST Espresso Martini Brownies

• Melted Butter: As mentioned above, this contributes to the shiny top!
• Melted Chocolate: Try to use a higher quality dark chocolate where possible, as this really does contribute to that final flavour.
• Light Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: It is the combination of both sugars that creates the fudgy texture and rich flavour.
• Frosting: Ensure your butter and coffee liqueur are at room temperature to prevent splitting.
• Chocolate Chunks: I stir milk chocolate chunks into the brownie batter for extra texture and deliciousness. Chocolate chips work perfectly here too. You can use any chocolate you like, and you can double the quantity if you are a huge lover!

For these Espresso Martini Brownies, I use a basic 8′ square pan (I like this one). I also recommend a good stand mixer or high speed mixer (like this one) to make the brownie mixture. If you want more wild brownie recipe ideas, check out my Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies or these Cookie Dough Cheesecake Brownies. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials! 

STORAGE

Because the frosting is made using fresh ingredients, you need to store these brownies in the refrigerator. Place in an airtight container before placing in the fridge. It will keep for up to 3 days this way. A cake tin is a great option if you have one. It can sit out while you serve and eat, just keep it in the fridge if it will go a while without being eaten.

Alternatively, you can freeze the brownie itself before it gets frosted. Completely wrap as tight as you can using cling film/Saran wrap. If you have an airtight container too, place it in there before freezing. Let thaw in the fridge before making the frosting and serving!