Guinness Brownies

Happy St. Patty's Day!! I'm usually not one to make a big fuss over St. Patrick's day, but I was waiting to have an excuse to whip up something full of Guinness and chocolate. I originally had cupcakes in mind, but it's spring break and I wanted something easy (I don't think mother nature got the memo, it's definitely 30 degrees outside).

These brownies are very rich, chewy, super chocolatey, and have hints of Guinness to finish things out. They're truly decadent, and worthy of any St. Patrick's day celebration. Enjoy!

P.S. Looking to whip up something a little less sweet for the holiday? Try this Irish Brown Bread recipe!

Guinness Brownies

Ingredients

Cooking spray

1 cup flour

1/2 cup dark cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (or semi-sweet chocolate chips)

6 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

1 1/4 cup Irish stout beer (Guinness!!), room temperature and foam skimmed off

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Place oven rack in the center position. Preheat to 350F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a small bowl.

Melt bittersweet chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Remove from heat.

Beat sugars and eggs together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Slowly add melted chocolate mixture and beat until just combined. Add flour mixture, 2-3 tablespoons at a time, until just combined. Whisk in beer until batter is thin; fold in nuts. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out with moist crumbs, 25-30 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Recipe source: adapted from All Recipes

Magic Cookie Bars

Wow, have I already been home for five days? Time sure does fly when you're lazy and tired all the time. Trying to recover from a 14 hour time difference hasn't been totally easy. Today is the first day I actually feel a bit normal and a lot less tired, and last night was the first night I got a full night's sleep without the aid of naps during the day or a sleeping pill. Jetlag aside, it has been wonderful being back in America. I've enjoyed spending time with my family by watching movies, playing games, shopping (yay!), and of course eating. Boy have we been eating. My awesome mother has been saving a turkey for me since November and we had Christmas and Thanksgiving this past weekend. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade bread, stuffing..the works. I was too tired to really help much, and slept nearly the whole time the turkey was cooking, but the whole house smelled like the holidays when I woke up. It was wonderful. 

Last night after a day of shopping (boot sale!) my mom and I stopped by Kroger on the way home to pick up two ingredients we needed to make these bars. Of course we ended up getting more (it was apparently a day of sales). I remember my mom making these for me and my sister when we were little and for some reason I can't remember the last time I had them. It had to have been when we were living in southern Mississippi, which was at least 5 years ago. Because my mom made them, I think I just assumed it was her special recipe, and that this elusive recipe had to be found by searching old recipe card holders. Thankfully, that was not the case. My mom never used a recipe, because she just knew how to make them. I now understand why. These are seriously SO EASY to make. The hardest part is melting the butter and mixing it with the graham crackers. After that you just pour the milk, dump the ingredients on top and bake it. Half an hour later you are left with an amazingly decadent bar that you will not forget. Cut yourself a square and pour a glass of milk!

Magic Cookie Bars

Adapted from All Recipes

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups mini chocolate chips 

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut 

1/2 cup toffee bits

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used pecans)

1 square unsweetened bakers chocolate, melted.

Directions

Heat oven to 350˚F (325˚F for glass dish) . Coat 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter, and press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture, and gently spread with a rubber spatula. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a spatula. 

Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Once out of the oven, drizzle with unsweetened chocolate. Cool, then cut into bars. Store covered at room temperature, or freeze for later.