Fudgy brownies are one of my absolute favorite desserts. There's just something so special about the rich, gooey, chocolatey goodness that comes together so quickly and easily! If you're looking to do something a little bit different with your brownies, you're definitely going to want to try these Stout Beer Brownies. Perfect for everything from a tailgate or Super Bowl party to a casual afternoon snack, these stout brownies come together in one bowl in a matter of minutes.
Why this recipe works
Even though I'm not much of a beer drinker, I do know that stout beers pair extremely well with chocolate. The flavor of the stout really shines in this stout beer recipe - it's definitely not a subtle addition - but it definitely gives your standard brownies a unique and delicious twist!
Ingredients and notes
Stout Beer - Stout Beer is what makes this recipe for beer brownies unique. Without it (and with replacements) this is still an incredible chocolate brownie. But with it, you are creating an awesome spin on an incredible classic dessert! There are so many awesome stout beer brands and so many different types of stout beer, but I always think the best stout beers are local or craft stout beer.
In this recipe, I used a peanut butter stout beer that is local to the Boston area, but I have also made this recipe with a coffee milk stout beer and I think a chocolate stout beer, a coffee stout beer, or an oatmeal stout beer would also be delicious in this recipe. There is also a bourbon stout beer that would be right up my alley! The most common stout beer is probably Guinness. There are so many good stout beers, you really can't go wrong!
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - Many brownie recipes call for melted chocolate. A lot of people believe that is needed to get the gooey center or the crackly top, but there is no need to stress about melting chocolate with this recipe! Cocoa Powder is all that's needed for that deep chocolatey taste, and we still get that fudgy texture and crackly top!
Melted Butter - Melting the butter is how we keep that gooey center in these brownies! In fact, these fudgy stout brownies are so fudgy that I generally recommend letting them cool overnight because they're still so gooey after baking.
How to make this recipe
Chocolate Stout Brownies
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 13 x 9 baking pan with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
Step 2
Heat ½ cup stout and butter over low heat until the butter is melted.
Step 3
In a mixing bowl, combine cocoa powder with the hot stout and butter mixture.
Step 4
Stir until the cocoa powder is dissolved then add the remainder of the stout beer and stir.
Step 5
Mix in the eggs and yolks.
Step 6
Stir in the sugar.
Step 7
Add the flour and salt and mix until just combined.
Step 8
Pour the prepared batter into the lined pan and bake for 20-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 9
Cool completely, ideally overnight, before cutting.
Step 10
Cut into squares (or into footballs - see note below), serve, and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Baking with stout beer primarily contributes to the flavor of the baked goods. The stout beer flavor is very pronounced in this stout brownie recipe. The beer is also a wet ingredient, adding moisture and possibly also a denseness to your baked goods.
In baking, liquids need to be replaced with other liquids (though note that all liquids are not created equal). If you want to still add some flavor, in this recipe you can substitute coffee in place of the stout. Alternatively, you can substitute milk or a combination of oil and milk for a basic (but still absolutely delectable) brownie recipe. Check out my Better than Box Mix Brownie recipe if you are looking for something more traditional.
Yes! Stout is a dark beer.
Tips & Tricks
- I know this is so hard to do, but let these brownies cool overnight! The longer cool time allows them to set and they are the most absolutely perfect texture. It is so worth the wait! If you (understandably) can't wait, they will still be delicious, they just may fall apart when you cut them because they're so fudgy!
- If you're making these for a tailgate, instead of cutting these into squares, use a football shaped cookie cutter or cut in the shape of footballs (see next tip). Combine 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and half a teaspoon of beer to create an icing. Using a toothpick or the prong of a fork, draw laces onto the football with the icing.
- If you don't have a cookie cutter, print an image of a football (or whatever shape you want to cut out!) and trace it on to wax paper. Cut the wax paper shape out, and then place the wax paper shape on top of the brownie (or cookie dough) and cut around the wax paper.
Related Recipes
Better than Box Mix Brownies
Guinness Black Currant Cupcakes
Bailey's S'mores Brownies
Manischewitz Brownies
German Chocolate Brownies
Spiced No Yeast Beer Bread
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Stout Beer Brownies
Equipment
- 9x13 baking pan
- silicone spatula
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Brownies
- ¾ cup cocoa powder heaping
- 1 cup stout beer divided
- 1 stick butter melted
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt Diamond Crystal
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 F and line a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
- Heat ½ cup stout and butter over low heat until butter is melted.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cocoa powder with hot stout and butter mixture and stir till cocoa powder is dissolved. Add remainder of stout beer and stir.
- Mix in eggs and yolks.
- Stir in sugar.
- Add in flour and salt till combined.
- Pour batter into lined pan and bake for 20-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely, cut into squares (or footballs - see notes!) and enjoy!
Notes
This post was updated in November 2021 with new photos and additional information about the recipe.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!