Sometimes grown-up gatherings call for grown-up desserts. And these Espresso Brownie Bites with Kahlua Buttercream Kisses are the sweetest little way to top off an evening with friends, or a New Year’s Eve celebration.
You already know how much I enjoy my mini treats, for both their fun attitude and their small pop-in-your-mouth size. And as we pull away from Christmas, with all its trays loaded with cookies and fudge, I appreciate even more having just a bite-sized sweet nibble to finish off a meal.
The brownies are deep and dark and fudgy, with a touch of espresso for maturity. And the frosting is creamy and luscious, and spiked with Kahlua, a coffee flavored liqueur that I find irresistible. With a dusting of cinnamon, these bites are everything warm and inviting, and perfect proof that there’s more than one way to ring in the new year with a little kiss.
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, diced
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1-1/2 c. sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. flour
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 T. heavy cream
- 4 T. Kahlua coffee liqueur
- 1 tsp. espresso powder
- 3 c. powdered sugar, sifted
- cinnamon, for dusting
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325°. Fold a long piece of heavy foil into a 13" wide strip and fit it inside a 9"x13" metal baking pan, leaving foil overhang on the 2 long sides. Spray the foil with nonstick spray.
Stir the butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, and then the eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Then sift the flour over the chocolate mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
Bake brownies until slightly puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.
Run a knife around the inside edge of the brownie pan. Use the overhanging foil as an aid and gently lift the brownies from the pan. The pan I used produces a brownie that is 1/2" thick. Be sure your round cutter is taller than 1/2". Press round cutter (mine is 1-3/8'' in diameter) firmly into the cooled brownie. Use a thin metal spatula to lift the cookie cutter filled with brownie from the foil. Gently press the brownie out of the cutter. Repeat the cutting process until your brownie looks like a big piece of swiss cheese.
Add butter to a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add cream and mix to combine. In a small bowl, combine Kahlua and espresso powder, stirring briskly with a spoon to dissolve the espresso powder. Add Kahlua mixture to butter and mix again. With mixer on low speed, add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Beat a bit, until light and fluffy.
Spoon buttercream into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (I used Wilton #12). Add a little kiss of buttercream to the top of each brownie bite. Finish by dusting top of buttercream lightly with cinnamon by shaking cinnamon through a fine mesh strainer.
Note: If you don't want to pipe on the little buttercream kisses, you could easily spread some buttercream onto the top of each brownie bite, and then finish with a dusting of cinnamon.
Source
from a farmgirl's dabbles
Mini treats are the best and we love brownies. These are so fun!!
Cassie | Bake Your Day recently posted..Reduced-Guilt Caramelized Onion Spinach Dip
These are adorable! Perfect for New Year’s Eve.
Tara @ Unsophisticook recently posted..Greek Veggie Crescent Appetizer Pizza
What a treat! A wonderful way to end the year!
These look so perfect, I can’t wait to try them!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen recently posted..Jacked-Up Raspberry Lemonade
These are just perfection!!!
bridget {bake at 350} recently posted..A little dusting of magic…
I am so into mini desserts at this point – perfect for holiday parties. Love these photographs!
Marly recently posted..Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
What little beauties! Happy New Year!
Sommer@ASP recently posted..New Year’s Eve Round Up
These look so sophisticated! Which is funny because they’re brownies.
I love how pillowy the buttercream kisses are. Oh, and that’s a great cake stand. Enjoy the rest of your holidays!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking recently posted..Totally from Scratch Rum Cake
I can see myself eating waaaaaaaaaaay too many of these bad boys!
Heather @ Heather’s Dish recently posted..Oh, Hey!
oh Brenda these look and sound incredible!!! Wish I had a few in front of me right now!!
Happy New Year!
Kahlua, Brownies & Espresso um YES!
Paula – bell’alimento recently posted..Shaved Asparagus and Lemon Pizza
I love, love, love the sound of these! And they’re so pretty too!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar recently posted..Top 25 Recipes From 2012
Ohh, I love these, they are gorgeous!
Angie recently posted..BBQ Chicken Pizza
Hi Brenda! These look so divine. What I happen to love about them is that they are small…. so even though I’m watching what I eat, I could make these for New Year’s Eve and not totally blow my eating goals!!! Gorgeous photos my Friend. Happy New Year!!!!
Kim | At Home With Kim recently posted..Week 1 ~ How’s it Going?
Beautiful and totally irrestible!
These are my kind of brownies, I love the espresso and Kahlua buttercream!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..winter white cupcakes + nielsen-massey vanillas giveaway
I LOVE mini desserts too! These are awesome, Brenda!!
JulieD recently posted..five things under $25 – what to buy with those gift cards!
These look perfect Brenda. I must make them soon. Happy New Year. I hope you all feel better soon. xo
Heather
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet recently posted..Best Recipes of 2012
Thanks, Heather. Slowly, slowly, we’re on the mend. Happiest New Year to you!! xo
oh my! these look amazing & so pretty all at the same time!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
xo
Kellie
nest of posies recently posted..Comment on What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? by Ring in the New Year with these 25 ideas!
Thank you, Kellie – and Happy New Year!! xo
Like Whoa. I seriously can’t imagine a more perfect desert for NYE! Delicous annnnnd GORGEOUS!
Laurie {Simply Scratch} recently posted..Dijon-Rosemary Crusted Prime Rib Roast with Pinot Noir Au jus
Thank you, Laurie!
Its so lovely to find your site. These after dinner delicacies are such an elegant way to celebrate the new year.
Oh I just love how pretty theses are!
Spectacular! These look and sound so amazing!
Sheila recently posted..Chocolate Stout Beef Stew
These look perfect for ringing in the New Year!
These are super adorable! I love all of your brownie bites ideas. ♥ Happy New Year!
Lynna recently posted..2012 My Top 10 Favorite Recipes
Thank you so much, Lynna. There can never be too many brownies in my world.
Happy New Year to you, too!
I just passed out. I adore these!!
Katrina @ In Katrina’s Kitchen recently posted..Top 10 Recipes of 2012
This is a super cute presentation. We just made these today. We had a bit of an issue with the frosting separating (boo!!!) but the brownie flavor is to die for. Happy New Year!!
Hi Amy! I wish I knew what was up with the frosting, as I haven’t had any issues. I would maybe just recommend beating it really well at the end. It should not be separating.
I found your blog because someone had pinned this recipe and I’m making these for a cocktail party tonight. My girlfriends and I are celebrating surviving the holidays with family and kiddos being home for two weeks. So excited to try these, you had me at kahula buttercream
Oh. My. Gosh! These look and sound so amazing Brenda!
Amanda recently posted..Slow Cooker Barbecued Country Style Ribs
Wow! I love brownies with Kahlua and the buttercream sounds amazing! They’re also super cute!!
Christy @ My Invisible Crown recently posted..Raspberry Tuxedo Cheesecake
wud luv to try your recipe but can u pls advise me the measurements in ozs instead of “c”. I cannot measure “c” accurately – I prefer measurements in ozs or grams. Also what is “T” measurement. Thanx.
Hello – you can find many sites online that offer measuring equivalents. “T” refers to tablespoon. Thanks – hope you like these!
Hi these look delish!! do u think they would freeze ok?
Thanks, Vicky. I have not tried freezing these, but I think it would work fine. If you try it, please let me know – thanks!
Great recipe! These taste amazing. I took them to a party and they were gone in five minutes with everyone asking for the recipe. I will definitely make them again, and again! I frosted them with a knife, rather than piping the icing.
Hi! I am new to your site and am completely enamored! What a joy! So many things I’m anxious to make.
Do you think this recipe would translate well with mini muffin pans? Thank you in advance! Have a beautiful weekend!
A friend made these for a baby shower, and they were a huge hit! I’m here to print out the recipe – I’ll definitely be making them myself!
I LOVE to hear this, of course! Thank you so much for letting me know – and enjoy your batch, too!