Name: Guinness Chocolate Brownies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 350 g Dark chocolate; 250 g Butter (unsalted); 200 ml Guinness; 250 g Dark brown soft sugar; 3 Eggs (large); 150 g Plain flour

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These deliciously moist Guinness Chocolate Brownies are rich, melt in the mouth and SO chocolatey. Guinness is the worldwide drink of choice to celebrate Irish culture, so these brownies would also be the perfect way to celebrate St Patrick's Day (or any day you fancy a tasty chocolate brownie!) The addition of Guinness to the brownies intensifies the chocolate and makes them super gooey and flavoursome.

Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure your eggs and the Guinness are at room temperature before you start baking. The butter can be cold for this recipe, as you are going to melt it anyway. It will just take slightly longer to melt.
I used unsalted butter for this recipe.
I used dark brown soft sugar for the brownies, which I do recommend using as it makes them extra fudgey, but you can also use light brown soft sugar or caster sugar.
If you can't get hold of Guinness, you can use another kind of dark stout.
For all of the answers to more questions about brownies, check out my Chocolate Brownies guide!
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales*. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons* and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Guinness Chocolate Brownies

Start by melting dark chocolate, butter and Guinness in a pan on a low heat until glossy and smooth. Let the mixture cool for 5-10 minutes. In a bowl whisk together eggs and dark brown soft sugar for 5 minutes with an electric whisk.

Slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixturem whisking as your pour. Add the plain flour and mix in. Pour the mixture into the baking tin and bake for 30-35 minutes. Leave to cool fully, then refridgerate before slicing into squares.

Do the brownies contain alcohol after baking?

From my research, the general information seems to be that around 35% of the alcohol remains after 30 mins of baking. Which would be 70ml of Guinness, spread amongst 16 slices would be less than 5ml per slice. At 4.2% Guinness is also very low in alcohol content. So it's a very tiny amount! However, if you cannot consume alcohol for medical reasons you should speak to a doctor before eating these brownies.

Can these brownies be baked in different size tins?

Yes! All you need to do is adjust the baking time. Bake for 25 minutes if using a 9" x 12" traybake tin, or 40-45 minutes if using a 8" square tin. Test they are done by poking in the centre with a cocktail stick. It should come out with moist crumb on it, but not be wet. I wouldn't recommend using anything smaller than an 8" square tin though.

What type of chocolate is best for brownies?

It’s hard to give an exact answer, because it depends on personal preference, but most dark chocolates will work well. I would always say to use a dark chocolate that you like to eat. One of the main ingredients of this recipe is melted dark chocolate, so it contributes massively to the flavour of the brownies. If you prefer a very dark chocolate that’s less sweet then use a higher cocoa bar, for example 70% cocoa and higher. If you prefer a milder dark chocolate, then a cocoa content around 40-50% will suit you better. One chocolate I would avoid using is cheap cooking or baking chocolate. You can get good quality baking chocolates (for example Lindt make one, and I have made amazing brownies with it) but any cheaper lower quality brands can taste very ‘fake’. For more tips on making brownies, check out my Chocolate Brownie making guide!

How should the brownies be stored and can they be frozen?

They should be stored in an airtight container, or covered on a plate, in a cool place for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the brownies. Once they are fully cool, wrap them well in cling film or place them in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

How do you know when the brownies are baked?

The best way to check is with the toothpick test, poke one into the middle of the brownies. It should come out with a few moist crumbs on it, but not be wet. It's better to underbake brownies rather than overbake them, especially for fudgey brownies, and you can always put them in the fridge to firm up.

Can the brownies be made gluten free?

For gluten free you can replace the plain flour with a gluten free plain flour blend. Unfortunately Guinness is not gluten free, so you will need to replace it with a gluten free stout alternative. Please do check the labels of everything you use if you are serving this recipe to anyone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can the brownies be made dairy free?

To make the brownies dairy free, use a dairy free butter alternative. I recommend Flora Plant, or the Stork Baking Block. Or you can replace the butter for 200ml vegetable oil (or another mild tasting oil like sunflower or canola oil). You will also need to make sure the dark chocolate you use in the brownie batter is dairy free. Please do check the labels of everything you use if you are serving this recipe to anyone with an allergy or intolerance.

More tips for making the Guinness Chocolate Brownies:

Make sure to line your tin with greaseproof baking paper so the brownies come out easily
If you like, you can frost the brownies with a Baileys buttercream, check out my Chocolate Guiness Cake with Baileys Buttercream for a recipe

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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