Chocolate Mascarpone Espresso Vodka Brownies Recipes

CHOCOLATE MASCARPONE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F; have ready a buttered 8-inch square glass cake pan.
• First, prepare the brownies.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter and bring it to just below a boil; have the chopped chocolate in a mixing bowl--pour the hot butter over the chocolate and let stand for 30 seconds.
• Stir until chocolate is completely melted.
• Sift in the sugar and cocoa powder (I do this through a sieve, not with a sifter).
• With a wooden spoon, beat in the mascarpone, eggs (30 minutes on the counter brings them to room temperature) and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
• Gently fold the flour and salt into the batter.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly--this is important since, if the batter isn't spread evenly, it won't bake evenly.
• Place into preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean (45 minutes did it for me).
• Place pan on a cooling rack and let brownies cool for 10-15 minutes, while you now make the ganache.
• Place chopped chocolate in a mixing bowl; in a small saucepan, bring the cream and the butter to just below the boiling point, over medium heat.
• Pour this hot cream-butter mixture over the chocolate and let stand for 30 seconds, then stir until smooth; ganache is now ready to use and can be spread over the brownies.
• Should you wish to wait a bit, make sure the ganache is warm when you spread over the brownies, as it does firm up which makes spreading hard to do.
• Don't cut into the brownies until ganache has firmed up; I find it best to put the brownies into the fridge to speed this along; once the ganache is firm the brownies do not need to be kept in the fridge, though.

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan with foil, extending foil over 2 sides of pan. Butter foil and pan sides. Dissolve 2 tablespoons espresso powder in 2 tablespoons hot water in medium saucepan. Add chocolate and butter. Stir over low heat until melted.
• Combine flour, nuts and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder in small bowl. Whisk 1 1/4 cups sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Whisk in chocolate mixture, then flour mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely. Cover brownie and freeze 30 minutes.
• Using foil as aid, lift brownie from pan. Peel off foil. Cut brownie into 2 x 1 1/4-inch diamonds. Mix 1 tablespoon espresso powder with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder in small bowl. Cover half of each brownie with parchment; sift cocoa powder mixture over brownies. Cover cocoa-dusted half of each brownie; sift powdered sugar over brownies. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Place in airtight container and freeze.) Serve at room temperature.