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Recipes » dessert » cake » Adult Brownies

Adult Brownies

By Kate Morgan Jackson

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This delectable recipe for adult brownies have a secret ingredient (and I bet not the one you think it is!). A fun dessert for the grown-ups in the room!

adult brownies

Okay, let me clear one thing up right this very minute.  These are not called Adult Brownies for the any of the various and sundry reasons some of you might think they are, anymore than my Naked Ravioli was called Naked Ravioli for any of the various and sundry reasons folks on my Framed Cooks Facebook page thought they were.  

That’s an imaginative group on that page, and I don’t know if they will be happy or deeply disappointed when I tell them the real reasons for the title of this recipe.

First of all, the recipe calls for three different kinds of chocolate.  GOOD chocolate.  I used Ghiradelli, because as far as I am concerned, that is as good as it gets, chocolate-wise.

But the main reason these are adult brownies is because they have a good dose of this in them.

espresso powder

Yep…espresso powder.  The most take-no-prisoners kind of coffee there is.  You can taste just a teeny hint of it in the brownies…it’s mainly there to kick the extreme chocolate up a notch…but it’s in there.

And so these brownies are not for the likes of little ones like this guy.

happy toddler

I adore you, mister, but you don’t need any coffee in that cute little bloodstream of yours.  You already do a fair amount of this.

baby running

Imagine that with a little espresso thrown in!

Before I get there, however, just a little bit more about the brownies.  First of all, these are the thick kind.  You’re going to bake them in an 8×8 pan, and they are going to come out a little over an inch high.

So when it’s time to cut them, cut them small.  Aim for one inch squares…a little adult brownie goes a long way.

Second, make sure you do the toothpick test before you take them out of the oven.  The toothpick should be pretty much clean when you poke it into the center of the brownie.

Third, let these cool COMPLETELY before you start to cut them.  It will be hard, but it’s necessary.

And fourth, don’t worry if they don’t look completely neat and perfect when you cut them.

The outside will be crackly and a little crumbly, and the inside will be almost like fudge, which can make for some messy cutting up…but I promise that once you taste these little chocolate explosions you Will Not Care.

So for us old codgers?  Adult brownies!!  Here’s the recipe.

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Adult Brownies


★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 32 brownies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Microwave and Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This delectable recipe for adult brownies have a secret ingredient (and I bet not the one you think it is!). A fun dessert for the grown-ups in the room!


Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons softened butter
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature and cut up into cubes
  • 2 four ounce bars milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 2 four ounce bars dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 four ounce bar bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cut a piece of parchment paper in a 8×12 inch rectangle. Grease it with the 2 tablespoons of butter and dust it with the 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and then fit it into an 8×8 baking pan, with the parchment extending up and over the edges. This will be the first of about 20 times you’re going to have to wash chocolate off your hands during this recipe. :)
  3. Put the milk and dark chocolate in a large microwave safe bowl and add the cubed butter. Microwave it at full power for 15 seconds, then take it out and stir. Repeat this five more times until the mixture is smooth. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
  4. Add both sugars and the vanilla to the chocolate and mix  until combined. Add the eggs one by one, mixing after each one until they are fully combined.
  5. Add in the flour, the sea salt and the espresso powder. Switch to a hand mixer and beat it at medium high speed until the batter is starting to pull away from sides of the bowl, about 3 minutes. Stir in the bittersweet chocolate.
  6. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and bake for 45 minutes Poke a toothpick into the middle after 45 minutes. If it comes out clean they are done…if not, continue baking until it comes out clean, checking at 5 minute intervals.
  7. Let pan cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Then remove the brownies carefully, using the edge of the parchment to lift them out, and let them cool completely on the rack. Cut into one inch squares and serve.
1 brownie19415.9 g91.7 mg11.9 g7 g0 g19.6 g1.1 g2.4 g38.9 mg

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Kate Morgan Jackson

Hi there!  I’m Kate, and I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover.  I started Framed Cooks in 2009, and my mission is to create and share family-friendly recipes that make cooking both easy and fun…yes, I said FUN!  My kitchen is my happy place, and I want yours to be that place too.  And if you make this recipe, I would love you to tag @FramedCooks on Instagram so I can see the deliciousness!as seen in logos

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Published on March 4, 2012

Good for: Christmas/Holidays, Super Bowl Eats, Tailgate Treats, Valentine's Day

Last Post:
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Next Post:
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Comments

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  1. meghan m says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    I LOVE you on FB already. :)

    Reply
  2. Nena says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Love food. Love to read! Match made in heaven!!! :O)

    Reply
  3. lynn @ the actor's diet says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    i just added some Starbucks VIA packets to brownie mix and the result was really amazing too!

    http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/the-brownie-mysteries/

    Reply
  4. Tara Z says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    sounds scrumptious! i already “Like” you on Facebook!

    Reply
  5. Mike says

    March 4, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    I already like you on Facebook, hope that counts. I also subscribe to the site feed. I subscribe to dozens and dozens, even get a hundred or more via Foodgawker. I subscribe for a while, then grow tired of them and unsubscribe – same on Facebook – but I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of this site.

    Reply
  6. Amy McFarland says

    March 4, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    I already like you on fb. I also get the RSS feeds. Love the recipes and humor! Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Joanne says

    March 4, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    I’m not sure that I need more espresso in my blood stream either…but that’s a risk I’m willing to take for these babies!

    Reply
  8. Kate says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:16 pm

    Your brownies look dense and moist, a great combination and with a “kick” of expresso! I pinned the recipe and found you on FB! Looking forward to making them.

    Reply
  9. Wendy says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    Love your FB page, I will pin it on Pinterest

    Reply
  10. jamie says

    March 5, 2012 at 12:50 am

    i like you on facebook :)

    Reply
  11. Brooke says

    March 5, 2012 at 1:41 am

    I liked you in facebook and I am sure I will like this brownie too. Thanks.

    Reply
  12. stephanie says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:23 am

    i liked you on fb (although I’ve liked you in make believe blog land for quite some time now. :)

    Reply
  13. Tara says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:31 am

    I liked your facebook page and i am seriously making those brownies..looks amazing!

    Reply
  14. Island Girl says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:47 am

    I liked your FB page! :)

    Reply
  15. Marcia Raker says

    March 5, 2012 at 9:51 am

    First, let me mention your gorgeous little boy. How do you have time and energy to do all you do?
    Those brownies…I started to hyper-ventilate when I saw them. Maybe later today because I cannot wait to make them.
    Your photography is great! Plus your pic when you were 3 yrs. I love red heads since I have 3 of my own.
    Thank you for sharing and your perfect and humorous writing.
    I have ‘Liked” you on Facebook and I think Like is an understatement.
    Sincerely,

    Marcia Raker

    Reply
  16. Myrnie says

    March 5, 2012 at 11:35 am

    I liked you on FB!

    Reply
  17. Noelle says

    March 5, 2012 at 11:55 am

    I “Like” you on FB:)

    Reply
  18. Carrie W. says

    March 5, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    I’m already a FB “Like”-er! Love your posts, love (and subscribe to) your blog! Thanks so much for all the wonderful “gotta try!”s… :-)

    Reply
  19. Susan says

    March 5, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    I “liked” your facebook page. Thanks for the opportunity to win!!

    Reply
  20. Judy R says

    March 5, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    I already “like” you on FB.
    Just put my “adult” brownies in the oven. Can’t wait to taste them!!

    Reply
  21. jmposti4 says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    I pinned it! Brownies are my favorite. Brownies with espresso well that’s just double yummy!

    Reply
  22. Vera says

    March 6, 2012 at 1:51 am

    I can almost smell these yummies already. Thanks for sharing! :)

    Reply
  23. Sin says

    March 6, 2012 at 1:56 am

    I would like to try this at home but I am not sure which chocolate bar I should be using for these two ingredients:

    >> 2 four ounce bars high quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
    Should I use 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar for this?

    >> 1 four ounce bar bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
    Should I use the 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Bar from Ghirardelli for this?

    Reply
  24. Tricia says

    March 6, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    I pinned it! Thanks for the fantastic recipe.

    Reply
  25. alicejane011 says

    March 6, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    I tweeted it! :) I love brownies and I’m looking forward to trying out this recipe!

    Reply
  26. Anu Chopra says

    March 6, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    I liked you on Facebook!

    Reply
  27. Sandi says

    March 19, 2020 at 8:24 am

    Yum. I just bought espresso powder and was looking to try it. Well try it I did in THIS recipe. Wonderful. Quick note on the cutting dilemma. I used parchment paper in the pan to create slings for easy removal, then I cut it with dental floss like you do a cheesecake. It cut clean with no sticky mess. Not that it mattered when my family got to them! :)

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Kate Morgan Jackson says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      Sandi! Thank you so much for these super handy cutting tips – and glad you liked them! :) :)

      Reply

Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a recipe writer, food photographer and devoted bacon lover. I’m so glad you’re here!

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