Mile High Guinness Brownies with Guinness Buttercream Frosting
Try this Mile High Guinness Brownies with Guinness Buttercream Frosting recipe.
Try this Mile High Guinness Brownies with Guinness Buttercream Frosting recipe.
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup melted butter
- 1 cup guinness beer
- 1/4 cup milk i used 2%
- 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups guinness beer
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate shavings (for topping)
- Carbohydrate 88.0517315465731 g
- Cholesterol 165.087500025809 mg
- Fat 64.9574341817874 g
- Fiber 1.68805669489073 g
- Protein 5.6087619240257 g
- Saturated Fat 40.7382267009455 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (256g)
- Sodium 689.521217286181 mg
- Sugar 86.3636748516824 g
- Trans Fat 4.70569442596885 g
- Calories 950 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a bowl add the flour and sift the cocoa powder, add the salt then whisk everything together. Set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer add the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and eggs. Mix everything together until well incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Add the beer and mix for another minute.
- Finally add cocoa and flour mixture and mix until batter is smooth.
- Pour half the batter in the prepared baking dish, then top with the chocolate chips evenly, then top with the remaining batter.
- Bake for 45 minutes. To test if it's done, insert a toothpick in the center of the brownies and if it comes out clean, it's done.
- Let cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make the buttercream frosting. Add beer to a saucepan and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes until it reduces and thickens, it will be similar to a syrup. You should have about ½ cup left.
- In a stand mixer, cream butter, then add the icing sugar and vanilla extract.
- Add about 2 tbsp of the Guinness extract and mix well. You might not need all the Guinness extract.
- Gradually add milk to the frosting and beat until smooth. If frosting is too thick add in a bit more milk or the Guinness extract, a few drops at a time.
- When the brownies have cooled, remove from pan and spread the buttercream frosting over the top.
- Sprinkle with chocolate shavings, then cut into pieces.
My Unexpected Culinary Adventure: Guinness Brownies and the Joys of Imperfection
Baking isn't exactly my forte. My culinary skills usually max out at a decent grilled cheese or a perfectly acceptable pasta salad. So, when I stumbled upon this recipe for Mile High Guinness Brownies with Guinness Buttercream Frosting, I approached it with a healthy dose of skepticism and a fair amount of trepidation. I'm more of a "open a can of soup" type of cook, not a "carefully measure ingredients and follow precise instructions" kind of cook. The idea of using Guinness, a drink I associate more with cozy pubs than kitchen experiments, in brownies felt daring, even reckless. But something about the rich, dark chocolate promised in the picture lured me in.
The initial stages went surprisingly well. The measuring, the mixing, even the slightly messy process of incorporating the Guinness into the batter – it was all surprisingly therapeutic. I found myself enjoying the rhythm of it all, lost in the quiet swirl of the mixer. But then came the baking. Forty-five minutes felt like an eternity, filled with anxious glances at the oven and the silent prayer that my brownies wouldn't turn into a burnt offering. The toothpick test, that moment of truth, felt like a life-or-death situation. And you know what? They came out perfect, at least as perfect as homemade brownies can be. Slightly uneven, maybe a little bit cracked, but undeniably delicious.
The buttercream frosting was another adventure entirely. Reducing the Guinness to a syrup-like consistency was a fascinating process, like watching a culinary alchemy unfold before my eyes. Whipping the frosting itself was pure indulgence; the creamy sweetness mingling with the subtle bitterness of the Guinness created a flavor profile unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Spreading the glossy frosting over the still-warm brownies was a messy but joyful act, a culinary ballet of spoons and spatulas. The final product, dusted with dark chocolate shavings, was nothing short of magnificent. They weren't the perfectly symmetrical, Instagram-worthy brownies one might see in a magazine, but they were *my* brownies, a testament to my unexpected baking success and a testament to embracing imperfection.
This experience proved to me that stepping outside my comfort zone in the kitchen, even with a recipe as seemingly complicated as this, can be incredibly rewarding. The process, from start to finish, was a masterclass in embracing the unexpected, in finding joy in the slightly imperfect, and in the simple pleasure of creating something delicious from scratch. These weren't just brownies; they were a symbol of my own personal growth, a culinary badge of honor. And honestly? They were the best brownies I've ever tasted.
Beyond the Recipe: A Reflection on Culinary Adventures and Self-Discovery
This brownie experience extended far beyond the simple act of baking. It became a metaphor for life itself. There were moments of doubt, moments of unexpected success, and moments of pure, unadulterated joy. Just like navigating life's complexities, the process demanded patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. The imperfect texture of the brownies mirrored the imperfections in my own life, reminding me that flaws are not only acceptable, but often enhance the overall experience.
The Guinness, an unlikely ingredient in a sweet treat, symbolized the unexpected twists and turns that life frequently throws our way. Embracing it, just as I embraced it in the recipe, made the final result even richer, deeper, and more complex. It's about learning to adapt, to experiment, to step outside the comfort of our meticulously planned routines and dive into the unpredictable world of spontaneous creation. The messy frosting process, similarly, mirrors the sometimes chaotic nature of our lives, where mistakes happen and adjustments are needed, but ultimately, the beautiful outcome makes it all worthwhile.
The act of baking these Guinness brownies became a journey of self-discovery, a miniature reflection of life's larger patterns. The meticulous measurement of ingredients showed the importance of attention to detail in all areas of life. The mixing and blending represented the collaboration and merging of diverse aspects in life’s tapestry. The baking time, a period of anticipation and trust, mirrors the patience required for dreams to take shape. And finally, the tasting of the final product stands as a testament to the fulfillment of hard work and commitment.
More than just a dessert, these Mile High Guinness Brownies are a symbol of embracing the unknown, finding joy in the imperfect, and celebrating the sweet rewards of taking culinary risks – and life risks – with a spirit of adventure.
