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
Ingredients
- for the espresso brownie bites:
- ½ 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
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¾ c. flour
- for the kahlua buttercream:
- ½ 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
Nutrition Information:
I can’t get over how flippin’ adorable these are! Even if they weren’t full of my favorites (espresso, chocolate, Kahlua!), they are so pretty I would just have to try these. Can’t wait to make them :)
Ha! Thanks, Colleen. They’re super fun and so good!!
Hello!
I just luckily stumbled across this recipe and am making it for a ladies afternoon tea, they lived gorgeous!
What type of unsweetened chocolate did you use?
Thanks!
Hello Stacey – sorry for the late reply. I hope you made this and liked it – it’s a favorite of mine, a recipe I like to make for my girlfriends! I usually use Baker’s chocolate or Ghirardelli for this recipe.
I have made these, as this recipe was published last Feb. for Valentines Day. They are simply delicious. I also made the brownie bites and used your raspberry butter cream, and that also was out of this world. I find that people enjoy bite sized desserts rather than a big slab of cheesecake. I find it easier and really more attractive.
Thank you again for a great recipe(s). They are special and “go-to’s”.
RT
Ummm Whats the T mean Tea spoon Table Spoon?
Hello Celeste – T. is for tablespoon. (tsp. is for teaspoon) I hope you like this recipe…I’m making it for a Christmas party this weekend!
these were a huge hit, thanks for the recipe!
Yay! Thank you for coming back to let me know, Valerie.
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!
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!
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 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!
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!
Wow! I love brownies with Kahlua and the buttercream sounds amazing! They’re also super cute!!
Oh. My. Gosh! These look and sound so amazing Brenda!
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 :)
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 just passed out. I adore these!!
These are super adorable! I love all of your brownie bites ideas. ♥ Happy New Year!
Thank you so much, Lynna. There can never be too many brownies in my world. :) Happy New Year to you, too!
These look perfect for ringing in the New Year!
Spectacular! These look and sound so amazing!
Oh I just love how pretty theses are!
Its so lovely to find your site. These after dinner delicacies are such an elegant way to celebrate the new year.