So you made Corned Beef and Cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...and you may have enjoyed a tall glass of Guinness too..but now what?  Guinness Brownies with Maple Buttercream Frosting is what! Chocolate, Guinness, and maple frosting...it's just what the doctor ordered!

Decadent and fudge-y, yet surprisingly light Guinness Brownies with Maple Buttercream Frosting are a choco-holic's delight.  There is a lot of chocolate flavor that is packed into these brownies by way of cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate. As if that wasn't enough,  all that chocolate flavor is intensified by 1 cup of Guinness beer.

These brownies are not a "lightened up" recipe and are in no way diet friendly, but they are delicious! Did you know you might even be getting some health benefits from having a little Guinness?  Read up about the study done at the University of Wisconsin on this subject. 

I preferred the texture of these brownies cold from the refrigerator  They have a sort of spongy texture at room temperature, but a more dense fudgy texture cold.  Since I frosted them, I elected to not use the entire cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips called for in the original recipe on top, but incorporated half of them in the batter.  I really LOVED the maple frosting on them though, and I think it worked beautifully with the deep chocolate flavor of the brownies.  It makes a great compliment to the deep chocolate flavor. 

In case you are wondering, you cannot taste the beer in the brownies!  All you get is the chocolate flavor shining though! Such a yummy way to end a meal or enjoy as a snack!  

Guinness Brownies with Maple Buttercream Frosting

By Renee Paj

Rich, fudgy brownies made with the goodness of Guinness draught!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Guinness beer, at room temperature
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate (60% to 70% cacao), chopped
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 6 TBSP unsalted butter, cut into chunks
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. maple extract
• 2 - 3 TBSP milk to thin frosting

Instructions

1. Pour out beer into a glass measure and allow to sit until the foam has disappeared. Do not count the foam in the measurement. You should have a full 8 oz. of beer once it's settled.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13" x 9" glass baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, bittersweet chocolate and the white chocolate chips, taking care not to heat too much. (can also be done in a double boiler). Allow to cool slightly.
4. In large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
5. In medium bowl, combine the eggs and sugar. Slowly add the melted chocolate mixture, a little at a time to temper the eggs, and then mix until well combined.
6. Add the chocolate/egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir well. Batter will be thick. Whisk in reserved beer. Batter will turn thin. Add semisweet chocolate chips to batter.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool brownies on wire rack and prepare the frosting.
9. To prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the butter and salt with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add in powdered sugar, by cupfuls and mix well after each addition. Add in maple flavoring and milk. Whip until creamy.
10. Once brownies are completely cool, frost the tops with prepared maple buttercream frosting.
11. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Cut into 24 bars.

Yield: 24 servings
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 10 mins.

Cook time: 00 hrs. 30 mins.
Total time: 40 mins.

Printable Recipe

Adapted from About Food

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