Hoiiday Espresso Brownies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting and Crushed Candy Cane (Gluten-Free!)
Photo: Gregg Lawson of Lawson Films
Hey guys!
It has been a hot minute since we have written you all - BUT only because we have been super busy planning new collaborations, events and concepts to bring to everybody!
For now, we want to share this Holiday recipe with you in collaboration with Master of One Podcast, Recipe Schmecipe, and Old Town Roasting to complete the ultimate...
That's right! HOLIDAY MEAL TIME WITH FRIENDS! Check out here where you can find the rest of the Holiday Meal Time friends with a simple and impressive Holiday Breakfast Recipe from Recipe Schmecipe, a Holiday Treat from your dear ol' Salt and Cinnamon and the key to happiness with Old Town Roasting's Coffee to warm everybody up on these chilly winter days!
So, a little bit about this Holiday Treat recipe - it was inspired by coffee and the baking chocolate master, Alice Medrich. I love adding coffee to anything chocolate because coffee brings out so much depth to chocolate - just when you thought you couldn't get any more chocolaty of a dessert...just add coffee/espresso and your world will forever change. You're welcome;). I particularly like Old Town Roasting's Rocket Fuel blend because it has distinct yet balanced notes of chocolate that. Great complement to any chocolate creations. If you are feeling a little daring, you might want to try the new coffee blend collaboration with Modcast X Old Town Roasting - Wake and Make! If you don't have access to this particular coffee, a nice espresso or another chocolatey coffee will do!
It is a relatively simple recipe that you can probably do half asleep (I even tested that myself - totally doable :P), or when you are in a big rush to get to a holiday party and you forgot you were suppose to bake and bring a homemade goodie ( I got you!!) It's easy, yummy and a crowd pleaser - with minimal effort.
AND this cream cheese frosting here is special just for you guys. The easiest frosting passed down from my mother to your home because we love you.
Alright, let's get down to the deets.
Espresso Brownie
*Makes one 9" square Brownie Tray
1 1/4 sticks of salted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of high quality unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Dutch-Processed!)
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1/2 cup of oat flour
2.5-3 TBSP Super finely ground Oldtown Roasting's Rocket Fuel Roasted Coffee Beans or other chocolate noted coffee.
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup of softened unsalted butter
8 oz Softened Neufchatel or Regular Cream Cheese
3/4-1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar (Depends on how tart or sweet you would like it!)
1 TSP of Vanilla Bean Extract
Crushed Candy Cane for Topping!
The Guide Lines
(Because you can stray from the recipe and make it your own - like we always say- season to your taste buds. Make it apart of your unique taste after the first try. And share it with the world!)
Brownies
1.) Preheat oven to 325oF.
2.)Line a Brownie Tray with Parchment Paper! It's going to get exciting in a hot minute!
3.)Place the butter in a heatproof bowl and melt with either a microwave or placing it in your oven until there is about1/4 -1/2 solid butter left (be careful - bowl might be very hot!). Remove from heat and stir the warm butter until it melts all the way through. It should look creamy!
4.) Mix in the sugars, cocoa and finely ground coffee into the creamed butter until mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla.
5.) Add eggs one at a time - stirring vigorously each time. The batter should look think, smooth and shiny!
6.) Slowly add the flour and stir until you can no longer see flour.
7.) Pour batter into your lined brownie tray and pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes. Check to see if it is done by plunging a toothpick into the center of the tray. Toothpick should come out slightly moist.
8.) Take it out and let it cool completely on a rack (You can put it in the fridge half way through cooling to speed the process. )
9.) Lift the brownie on the parchment paper out and cut into squares on a cutter board!
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
1.) Add butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract into a mixing bowl, and blend well until fluffy with a hand mixer.
2.) Slowly add and mix powdered sugar in thirds with a hand mixer until your taste buds say, " Yup, that's the sweet spot".
3.) Pipe frosting onto brownies and sprinkle some crushed candy cane on top for some holiday cheer!:D
4.) Eat. All. Of. Them.
Hope you enjoy these Holiday Brownies with your friends and family!
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!
With Love,
Cinny