It’s brownies and it’s booze. Need I say more? These rich Baileys Brownies are spiked with Bailey’s Irish Cream and topped with chocolate covered espresso beans for even more of a kick.
For the brownies, melt baking chocolate with butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until completely melted. Remove from heat.
Pour chocolate into mixing bowl, add sugars. Stir well. Add in eggs, espresso powder and Bailey's. Add in flour and salt, stirring until blended.
Spread batter into a parchment paper lined 11x7 baking pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until brownies appear set on top. Remove and cool completely.
For the frosting, melt baking squares with butter on low heat. Stir until completely melted. Transfer to large mixing bowl. Beat in espresso powder, heavy cream, Bailey's and powdered sugar. Beat for 2-3 minutes until completely combined. Add more cream if necessary to get desired consistency. Spread over cooled brownies and sprinkle immediately with chopped espresso beans. Refrigerate until set, about one hour. Cut and enjoy!
Notes
Un-boozy brownies: If you prefer a brownie without the boozy spin, you could substitute the Bailey’s cream for heavy cream in both the brownie batter and the frosting.
Espresso powder: I like the King Arthur Flour espresso powder best in this recipe. If you can’t find espresso powder, you could substitute instant coffee powder instead.
Toppings: The chocolate covered espresso beans are a finishing touch I really enjoy, but they are by no means necessary! You could serve these without any extra garnishes or sprinkle on a different topping like chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
Frosting: These taste good unfrosted but, as you have probably gathered, I’m a huge fan of the richness and moisture the icing adds. You could also substitute another favorite brownie frosting if you prefer!