For a household that relies almost exclusively on wine for libation, we have a liquor cabinet that is filled to capacity. Rum, brandy, vodka, whiskey and a variety of liqueurs–all opened, in varying degrees of almost-full. What is the shelf life of alcohol anyway? Opened bottles of wine certainly never last long around here but the others, after one or two uses requiring no more than a tablespoon or two, sit forgotten in the cabinet.
When I had a craving for sweets recently I was resolved to add a boozy element to it, no matter what.
These brownies were a product of that mission. A classic brownie is hard to beat–I have a few recipes in the archives–but a food blogger always tweaks what’s already good to see if a recipe can be made just a little better. Besides the plan to incorporate bourbon in this batch of brownies I wanted to add Toblerone pieces, one of my favorite chocolate bars from childhood. And coffee has an enhancing effect on chocolate baked goods so I threw that in, too. Then I spied a lone, overripe banana on the counter and I said, “Why not?”
As the brownies baked in the oven I did wonder if adding four extra elements to one baked good would be a mistake. I was anxious for the brownies to cool so I could take a bite.
The first thing you taste is chocolate, of course, followed closely by the bourbon. I wasn’t expecting to taste the espresso and I was pleased to see that I used just enough to enhance the chocolate experience. The banana was the last to hit the palate and I really liked it; it was very subtle. The Toblerone chunks melted into the brownies but every once in a while I got a random chunk of chocolate and nougat.
For a non-hard liquor drinker like me, I thought the bourbon flavor was just a tad prominent but my husband absolutely loved it. When I brought the rest of the bars to the office the next day they received nothing but rave reviews. The bourbon flavor actually mellowed a lot the next day so just when I thought that I’d have to reduce the bourbon component by half next time, I decided that I’d keep this recipe exactly as it is.
One-fourth cup of the bourbon down…the rest of the bottle to go…
Espresso Bourbon Brownies with Toblerone Chunks
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup bourbon or milk
- 2 tablespoons espresso granules
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup toasted chopped pecans
- 2 ounces Toblerone chocolate or the entire bar chopped into chunks
- 1 mashed banana optional
Instructions
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Melt the butter and chocolate together in a small saucepan until smooth and set aside.
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Preheat your oven to 350℉, line an 8x8-inch baking pan with foil--two layers with overhang on all four sides. Spray the foil with cooking spray. Stir together the bourbon and coffee granules in a small bowl and set aside.
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Stir the sugar into the chocolate-butter mixture followed by the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in the vanilla extract and bourbon mixture.
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Stir together the flour and baking soda in another bowl then stir it into the chocolate mixture. Then stir in the mashed banana, just enough to combine the ingredients then stir in the Toblerone chunks and toasted pecans.
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Bake for 30 minutes then cool in the pan on a wire rack. Use the edges of the foil to lift out the block then set it on a cutting board. Divide equally into thirds to yield 9 bars.
Recipe Notes
As a guide, I used very loosely the Bourbon Brownie Petit Fours recipe from Better Homes and Gardens 100 Best Cookies (2012 magazine print).
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
These look fantastic! I don’t cook with booze often enough either. I always use it in sauces and risotto but rarely in baked goods. I just don’t think of it.
Patty says
Such pretty photos of a fantastic treat! Hope you’re enjoying your Summer Jean 😉
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
All I want is to sink my teeth into one of these brownies! Love the flavor combo and the Toblerone, of course! 🙂
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
Wow, I am in love with the looks and idea of these!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
I love the combination that is these brownies. Bourbon and banana and chocolate go so well together.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
Well at least now you know how to use up bourbon.:) The brownies sound amazing Jean. Love the early morning look to your photos. Hope you’re having a great summer.
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says
We too are a primarily wine household with the occasional drink here and there. In fact, my Saint Germaine and Chambord had been in the liquor cabinet a bit too long and had to replace them recently. Love espresso and bourbon in anything is very tasty. I can see why your office gobbled these down. Don’t you love baking and then having a place to off load your final products? My offices enjoy my baking binges. 🙂
Rosa says
They look very tempting and must taste really good! A fantastic treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
Valerie says
Bourbon + chocolate – what a beautiful couple! (And of course, who can resist Toblerone?)
Now if you need help emptying the rest of that bottle of bourbon… 😀
Elizabeth says
These look amazing!! The ingredient list shows 3/3 plus 2 tablespoons of sugar, is that correct? One cup plus 2 Tbsp? Thanks!
lemonsandanchovies says
Hi, Elizabeth. Thanks so much for catching that typo. It’s 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar. I’ve made the correction. Thanks again!
Liren says
Best mission ever. It sounds like another batch of brownies are in order to help use up more bourbon! But what caught my eye the most was the toblerone 🙂 I’m sold!
RavieNomNoms says
Excuse my language but holy sh*t those look amazing! wooo…just wow
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
I have never added bourbon to brownies, but I love the addition of Toblerone. Reminds me of my uncle when we visited him in Germany as a kid!