Best Easy Beer Brownies Recipes

GUINNESS BROWNIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-9-inch pan with nonstick spray, and line with parchment paper, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of excess paper on two sides (these will serve as "handles" to help remove the brownies from the pan later).
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using) and salt to combine; set aside.
• Fill a medium pot with about 2 inches of water, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Place a large bowl on top of the pot, and add the 12 ounces of chocolate and the butter to the bowl. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth. Add the sugar and continue to heat, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Remove the bowl from the heat. Use a whisk to mix in the eggs, one at a time, whisking well until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Whisk in the vanilla.
• Whisk in half the flour mixture, then gradually whisk in the stout, mixing just until combined. Add the remaining flour/cocoa mixture and whisk just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the surface of the batter, then transfer to the oven and bake until the brownies appear just set in the center, 23 to 30 minutes. They should seem slightly underbaked and will firm up as they cool.
• Cool completely to room temperature, then transfer to the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. (It's easier to cut the brownies when they're chilled.) Use the parchment "handles" to gently lift the brownies out of the pan, and cut into 16 even pieces. Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

BEER-SPIKED BROWNIES WITH PECAN ICING

Steps:

• Make the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two short ends; coat with cooking spray. Bring the beer to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook until reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 15 minutes. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
• Wipe out the saucepan and add the butter and chopped chocolate. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and eggs and stir until glossy and smooth. Stir in the reduced beer. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and stir until no lumps remain. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Mix 2 tablespoons beer with the granulated sugar in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved; spoon or brush over the warm brownies and set aside.
• Make the icing: Combine the butter, all but 2 tablespoons pecans and the salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and the nuts are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth. Remove from the heat and add the confectioners' sugar in two batches, alternating with the remaining 1/4 cup beer. Stir until smooth, then pour over the warm brownies and gently spread. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons pecans. Let cool completely. Lift the brownies out of the pan using the foil overhang and cut into pieces.

GUINNESS BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Slowly pour the Guinness into a medium saucepan, trying to make as little foam as possible. (Hold the pot at an angle and press the lip of the bottle to the side of the pot and slowly pour. This should help eliminate foam.) Bring the beer to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 13 minutes (you may need to pour the beer into a liquid measuring cup a few times to make sure it is reduced enough). Add the butter and whisk constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk constantly until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Add the flour mixture and stir slowly until combined, taking care that none of the flour spills out of the pot. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Bake until set on top, the brownies have slightly pulled away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top.
• Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to remove the brownies from the pan to a cutting board and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle the confectioners' sugar on top of the brownies and slice into 16 squares.

EASY BEER BROWNIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine brownie mix with about 1/4 cup of beer (I used Rogue Chocolate Stout). If mixture seems too thick, add a little more beer.
• 2. Spoon about 1 TBSP of mixture into mini brownie pans (included in box). Follow directions for baking time.
• 3. After brownies have cooled a bit, combine cinnamon and powdered sugar into a bowl. Add beer until mixture can be easily drizzled. Top cooled brownies with glaze. Refrigerate 30 minutes to let glaze set.
• 4. Makes 12 brownies.