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Espresso Chocolate Chip Brownies

These espresso chocolate chip brownies are super fudgy and topped with a homemade fluffy vanilla bean buttercream. These are the type of brownies that will have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight for a snack. Plus they are super simple to make!

These espresso chocolate chip brownies are super fudgy and topped with a homemade fluffy vanilla bean buttercream. These are the type of brownies that will have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight for a snack. Plus they are super simple to make!

It’s my birthday today I’m 35. Does that make an adult now? If it’s supposed to make me an adult I definitely don’t feel like one. I still make poor eating choices (drumsticks for breakfast!), stay up WAY too late most days, sometimes sleep the day away, watch Disney channel movies (Um, I’m sorry but Camp Rock is totally a good movie) and talk to my husband and cats in about 5 different made up voices a day.

Sometimes I imagine I’m not a real adult because I don’t have kids. Like, maybe popping out a few kids turns you into someone who can make hard decisions without batting an eye. Even this December when I had to put my sweet little Jolie to sleep (I didn’t blog about it but boy did it suck) I thought to myself “I’m really not old enough to be making these decisions.” and then found myself looking around the room for someone to tell me that I was, in fact, making the right decision.  I don’t know why but I always imagined my parents as being these people who never doubted their decisions and knew exactly how everything was going to play out. I wonder if they felt like I do most days – a big kid with power.

These espresso chocolate chip brownies are super fudgy and topped with a homemade fluffy vanilla bean buttercream. These are the type of brownies that will have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight for a snack. Plus they are super simple to make!

Know what else I do all day long? Listen to podcasts. I turn them on and carry my phone around with me all through the house. Lately, I’ve been OBSESSED with My Favorite Murder podcast. Obsessed probably doesn’t even begin to describe my love for this podcast. Now, before you super duper judge me let me explain why I love this podcast. First, I’m a bit of a weirdo. I have always weirdly been interested in serial killers but not in the sense that I love murder but more like “What makes them tick? Why did they do it? What happened? How were they caught?” It’s always a little weird to be like “oh yeah, I love murder shows and true crime. Wanna talk murder?” But, the second someone is like “Oh I watch a Forensic Files the other day….” I’m all like “OMG YES LET’S DO THIS!” {The podcast’s sign off is “Stay sexy. Don’t get murdered” so these brownies are a bit of a shout out!}

Second, I’m horribly scared of death. I won’t wear a scarf while riding in a car because I’m scared if I got into a car accident it might strangle me. Seriously, these are the thoughts that go racing through my brain #anxiety And since I’m so scared of death it also weirdly makes me interested in it – does this even make sense? IDK. Either way – this is me. Love me as I am.

PLUS the ladies that chat in this podcast are basically my spirit animals. They are slightly neurotic, filled with anxiety, make inappropriate jokes, talk openly about how they go to therapy and seem to basically deal with anxiety via humor. Hello – THIS. IS. ME.

And they teach women to f*ck politeness. If you feel like you’re in a bad situation or someone is making you feel uncomfortable – IT’S OK TO GO AWAY. You’re not not being polite because you want to feel safe. It also goes hand in hand with my new age 35 motto which is “Um, I’m 35. I don’t have to ANYTHING I don’t want too.” Honestly, I’ve started saying this months ago (aging myself before it was even true) and it’s so freeing. 35 years old is too old to be guilted into doing things I don’t want to do.

It’s time to focus on self-care and after 35 years of being on this planet, it seems about time.

Oh, and before I totally don’t tell you what the podcast is about let me give you a quick run down. Basically, these two ladies get together and talk about new and interesting murders each week. It’s like a mix of murder and comedy. They talk about serial killers, unsolved murders, people who have survived crazy situations (virtual high five to my I Survived fans!) and listeners share their freaky hometown murders. It’s weird and amazing all at the same time.

These espresso chocolate chip brownies are super fudgy and topped with a homemade fluffy vanilla bean buttercream. These are the type of brownies that will have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight for a snack. Plus they are super simple to make!

Of course, I should also talk about these espresso chocolate chip brownies. They are super fudgy, packed full of espresso chocolate flavor and easy to make. What’s not to love? Plus I topped them with super fluffy vanilla bean frosting. You know how I love my vanilla bean paste so I drizzled A LOT of it in my frosting because I wanted that baby speckled with vanilla beans like WHOA!

Now, get into the kitchen and make these brownies, listen to My Favorite Murder and practice some self-care!

{Looking for more delicious brownie recipes? Try my Peppermint Hot Chocolate BrowniesDark Chocolate Yogurt BrowniesSalted Caramel Guinness BrowniesBrownie Donuts with Fluffy Peanut Butter FrostingFunfetti Rocky Road Brownies, Peanut Butter Marshmallow Krispie Topped Brownies or my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Smores Brownies}

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Espresso Chocolate Chip Brownies

These espresso chocolate chip brownies are super fudgy and topped with a homemade fluffy vanilla bean buttercream. These are the type of brownies that will have you sneaking into the kitchen at midnight for a snack. Plus they are super simple to make!

Yield: 9x13 pan

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

For brownies:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons instant espresso powder
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1-1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

For frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 tablespoons half and half

Directions:

For brownies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.

In the bowl of an electric mixer add melted butter and both sugar. Mix for about 3 minutes until the mixture is slightly lightened in color. Add in espresso powder and mix to combine.

Add in eggs and mix until each egg in completely incorporated.

In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder and kosher salt.

With the mixer on low add the flour and mix just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Add batter to the prepared 9x13 pan and bake for 30 minutes or until desired doneness. After 30 minutes they were still a little fudgy in the middle which is just how I like them!

Once cool top with frosting.

For frosting:

Add butter to the bowl of an electric mixer and whip for about 3 minutes or until fluffy in appearance. Add in vanilla bean paste, mix to combine. Add in 3 cups powdered sugar and slowly mix until incorporated and then whip for about 1 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add in 2 tablespoons half and half and mix to combine. If the frosting is too thick thin out with more half and half.

Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Janet

Sunday 25th of March 2018

Want to make these today - could I sub. all purpose flour for the white whole wheat flour? Thank you!

Laura at I Heart Naptime

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

So, these brownies need to be sitting in front of me ASAP. And... I need to check out MFM. Because I'm an old lady who isn't hip to you kids anymore (I just turned 40 last month - ha!).

Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

Happy birthday, Brandy, and these brownies look absolutely scrumptious!!

eat good 4 life

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

I need a couple of these brownies. They look scrumptious!

Angie | Big Bear's Wife

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I feel like we are exactly the same haha. HI totally don't feel like an adult and I'm always looking for a more adulter adult hahaha. I always wonder about kids too, like maybe one day when we have kids I'll feel like an adult? maybe? haha. PS. love the brownies!

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