Espresso Brownie Bites with Kahlua Buttercream Kisses
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.
Espresso Brownies Bites with Kahlua Buttercream Kisses
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.
Ingredients
- for the espresso brownie bites:
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, diced
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 1.5 c. sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 1.5 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. flour
- for the kahlua buttercream:
- 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
Instructions
for the espresso brownie bites:
- Preheat oven to 325° F. 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.
for the kahlua buttercream kisses:
- 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.
Notes
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.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Like Whoa. I seriously can’t imagine a more perfect desert for NYE! Delicous annnnnd GORGEOUS!
Thank you, Laurie! :)
oh my! these look amazing & so pretty all at the same time!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
xo
Kellie
Thank you, Kellie – and Happy New Year!! xo
These look perfect Brenda. I must make them soon. Happy New Year. I hope you all feel better soon. xo
Heather
Thanks, Heather. Slowly, slowly, we’re on the mend. Happiest New Year to you!! xo
I LOVE mini desserts too! These are awesome, Brenda!!
These are my kind of brownies, I love the espresso and Kahlua buttercream!
Beautiful and totally irrestible!
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!!!!
Ohh, I love these, they are gorgeous!
I love, love, love the sound of these! And they’re so pretty too!
Kahlua, Brownies & Espresso um YES!
oh Brenda these look and sound incredible!!! Wish I had a few in front of me right now!!
Happy New Year!
I can see myself eating waaaaaaaaaaay too many of these bad boys!
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!
What little beauties! Happy New Year!
I am so into mini desserts at this point – perfect for holiday parties. Love these photographs!
These are just perfection!!!
These look so perfect, I can’t wait to try them!
What a treat! A wonderful way to end the year!
These are adorable! Perfect for New Year’s Eve.
Mini treats are the best and we love brownies. These are so fun!!