Chocolate Espresso Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Lightly grease a 13inch x 9inch baking pan. Mix flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt. Heat butter in a medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in flour mixture and nuts until blended. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool on a wire rack. For frosting: Melt butter and chocolate chips in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in milk, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Refrigerate until cold, about 45 minutes. When cold, beat with a whisk until pale and stiff. Spread frosting on cooled bars. Let set about 1 hour before cutting bars.

ESPRESSO CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• For the crust:
• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch round springform pan with parchment or waxed paper. Spray the paper and the sides of the pan with cooking spray. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the graham crackers and sugar. Process until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Add the melted butter and blend until the mixture forms into clumps. Spread the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing gently to form an even layer. Place the pan on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the crust is golden. Cool for 15 minutes.
• For the caramel:
• While the crust is cooling, in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of cream, butter, sugar, and water. Stir over medium heat until the mixture is smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F, about 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully pour the caramel over the warm crust. Cool for 20 minutes. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• For the chocolate layer: Combine the chocolate chips and cream in a small bowl and place over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the espresso powder. Remove the springform pan from the freezer. Pour the chocolate mixture over the caramel layer and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with smoked sea salt, if using. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
• Allow the layers to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Using a warm, slightly wet knife, carefully cut around the edges of the chocolate layer. Release the side of the pan and remove the paper from the bottom. Cut into 1 1/2-by-1/2-inch bars and store airtight in a covered plastic container.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE BARS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Line a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. In a food processor, or in a resealable plastic bag, crush the graham crackers until you have fine crumbs (but stop before you have dust). You should have about 2 1/4 cups. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl. Add the butter, sugar and salt and stir until evenly moistened. Tip the crumbs into the prepared pan and press them down into an even layer on the bottom. Transfer to the freezer while you prepare the filling.
• Make the filling: Set the chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup cream, espresso powder and salt until hot but not boiling. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let it stand for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool completely.
• In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the remaining 2 cups heavy cream until you have stiff peaks. Add the chocolate mixture and gently fold to combine. Pour the mixture over the prepared crust, and spread it out into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours. To serve, cut the two edges without parchment free with a sharp knife then use the parchment overhang to transfer the bar to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

SUPER FUDGY TRIPLE CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO BROWNIES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick vegetable cooking spray.
• Fold two 12-inch lengths of foil lengthwise so that they measure 7 inches wide.
• Fit one sheet in bottom of greased pan, pushing it into corners and up sides of pan; overhang will help in removal of baked brownies.
• Fit second sheet in pan in same manner, perpendicular to first sheet.
• Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
• In medium heat-proof bowl set oven a pan of almost-simmering water, melt chocolates and butter, stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth.
• Whisk in cocoa and espresso powder until incorporated.
• Set aside to cool slightly.
• Whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in medium bowl until combined.
• Whisk chocolate mixture into egg mixture; then stir in flour until just combined.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan, spread into corners and level surface with rubber spatula; bake until slightly puffed and toothpick inserted in center comes out with a small amount of moist batter clinging to it, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 2 hours, then remove brownies from pan using foil handles.
• Cut into 1-inch square and serve.
• Do not cut brownies until ready to serve, brownies can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO BARS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350°F. Generously grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl; set aside.
• In a small, heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and chocolate and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until blended. Gradually stir in the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the vanilla, then add the flour mixture and stir until blended.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan and the center is springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.
• Meanwhile, make the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream and espresso powder and heat, stirring, just until the powder is dissolved and bubbles start to appear around the pan edges. Add the chocolate and salt, remove from the heat and stir just until the chocolate is melted. Let cool to room temperature.
• Using a small offset spatula, spread the cooled glaze over the cookie in a thin layer. Refrigerate until the glaze is set, about 30 minutes. Cut into 1 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch bars or 2-inch squares. Top each bar with a chocolate-covered espresso bean.