Give me a dark and decadent brownie, and all my problems are solved.
Brownies are my go-to. My constant craving. My chocolate saviour.
A couple months ago, I made some brownies with a thick layer of irresistible mocha buttercream, and shared them with my sister’s family and their friends who were visiting from out of town. It was such fun to see my sister’s eyes roll back in pleasure as she took each bite, savoring the simple bliss of an extra special brownie.
Cheryl’s birthday is in a few days, exactly one week before mine. So there were many times that our birthday parties were done in tandem. Note the two candles for Cheryl, five for me, on the butterfly cake that Mom made for us when we were kids. Mom always made us such fun cakes!
For a number of years when I was young, I remember having a very hard time grasping the concept that Cheryl’s birthday was before mine, but that I was older. I think it was due to the fact that our birthdays were just so close together, because I didn’t question anybody else’s birthdays during the year. Now I smile when I have to explain this to my own youngest daughter.
If I had to name people in my life who live for the chocolate and peanut butter combo, at the top of the list would be my husband and my sister Cheryl. Their pick from the candy rack has always been Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. So I set out to create a brownie for Cheryl’s birthday that would make her eyes roll back even further…Espresso Brownies with Peanut Butter Marshmallow Frosting.
These brownies are dense and fudgy, with a deep chocolate flavor enhanced by espresso powder. Cheryl loves a good cup of coffee, so the espresso was a no-brainer.
And the peanut butter frosting…oh my. Sitting on top of the brownie, almost as thick as the brownie itself, it’s a fluffy silky layer that’s fun to sink your teeth into. The frosting is loaded with peanut butter flavor and fluffed up with sweet marshmallow cream. Topped with a little splattering of more espresso powder, plus cinnamon and rich cocoa powder, this is definitely, absolutely, positively an extra special brownie.
Here’s to you, dear sister. Thanks for always helping me see this world through a different set of lenses. I love you, Cheryl!
Espresso Brownies with Peanut Butter Marshmallow Frosting
Ingredients
- for the espresso brownies:
- ½ c. 1 stick unsalted butter, diced
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 1.5 c. sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- ¾ c. all-purpose flour
- for the peanut butter marshmallow frosting:
- ½ c. marshmallow cream homemade or store bought
- ¾ c. creamy peanut butter
- 6 T. unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 T. heavy cream
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. espresso powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. cocoa powder I used a rich Dutch process cocoa from Penzeys.
Instructions
for the espresso brownies:
- Preheat oven to 325° F.
- To achieve ultra clean cuts, prepare a pan with a foil or parchment paper liner. Fold a 16” long piece of foil to an 9” x 16” strip and place in 9” x 9” metal baking pan, leaving overhang on 2 sides. Repeat with another sheet of foil in opposite direction, lining pan completely. Spray foil with nonstick spray. If you’re not looking for perfect brownie cuts, simply spray pan with nonstick spray and eliminate the foil lining.
- Stir butter and chocolate in large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar, then eggs, one at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt and then sift flour over. Stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
- Bake brownies until puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack.
for the peanut butter marshmallow frosting:
- In a medium bowl, with a mixer at low speed, combine marshmallow cream, peanut butter, butter, and salt until well blended. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar, alternately with cream, until smooth and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Spread frosting evenly over cooled brownies.
- If you lined the pan with foil, using foil as an aid, lift brownies from pan.
- Then, in a very small bowl, combine espresso powder, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Gently pour mixture into a very fine mesh strainer. Hold the strainer over the frosted brownies and gently tap the strainer on the side to release the mixture in little splatterings over the top of the frosting.
- Cut into squares and serve. If the brownie is sticking to your knife as you cut, it helps to set the brownies in the refrigerator or freezer for a bit to chill first.
I always love your brownie recipes, Brenda. I love the espresso twist here!
Brenda, These look amazing! I think my eyes would roll back in my head too! Yum. How fun you and your sis almost share a birthday. That was my cousin and I. We are 2wks apart and we always shared a family birthday party. Good times.
Happy Mother’s Day Brenda! I love these brownies, they look so amazing!
Oh my, oh my, oh my!! These looks so delicious!! The frosting!!! Oh I love that frosting!!
What a cute story about and your sister!!
Happy Mothers day!
Oh, my! Coffee, chocolate, and peanut butter all in one lovely, delicious little bite. You’re trying to make me break my diet, aren’t you? :-)
I agree, a good brownie is tough to beat! Love the picture of you and your sis. :) Happy Mother’s Day!
I love these brownies, all my favorite flavors!
That frosting looks incredible Brenda! I would like to smear it on many things!
I love anything with espresso-yum! Cute picture too!
These brownies are incredible! They look perfectly rich and fudgy! Peanut butter marshmallow frosting is the perfect topping!
I absolutely have to make these brownies as they have everything I LOVE rolled into one yummy looking brownie!
Your photo with your sister is just adorable too! You look just like you did when you were small (cute a a button as my Mom would say), only all grown up now of course. The cake your Mom made was really cute and special and I can see where you got the knack for your wonderful baking you can do now! Your Mom!!! :-)
Happy Birthday and Happy Mother’s Day to you Brenda! I am sure you made your sister’s birthday more special than ever with this special surprise brownie you made her! So sweet! :-)
Brownies. Espresso. Peanut Butter. Pass the plate.
These are just to die for!
Wow, those look so good. Peanut Butter marshmallow frosting sounds simply to die for.
I have two link parties {one for Facebook and one for pinworthy blog posts like this one} going on over at Just Us Four. I hope you will come join the parties :)
These are genius! That peanut butter marshmallow frosting sounds amazing, and the espresso chocolate combination is one of my favorites.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! I didn’t know Cheryl was such a peanut butter/chocolate fan. We will have to share a treat together soon :) These look amazing!!!
That peanut butter layer looks incredible. I love the picture of you and your sister, too. Fun!
What a sweet story and pics of you and your sister! These brownies look OUT of THIS WORLD!!! I’m a huge fan of the peanut butter chocolate combo myself!!!
Replaying in my mind how delicious these
brownies tasted. So enjoyed seeing the pic
of you and Cheryl.
I think my son would be in heaven if I made him these he absolutely loves that combo chocolate and peanut butter… I don’t blame him :-) Beautiful pics.