Fudgy Homemade Espresso Brownies Recipe

I'm thrilled to share a dessert that's perfect for coffee lovers. If you love a strong cup of joe, you'll love this Fudgy Homemade Espresso Brownies Recipe. It combines two of life's greatest pleasures: rich chocolatey brownies with a bold kick of espresso. 

These fudgy espresso brownies are an absolute delight, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth and giving you that extra caffeine boost. Plus, they're incredibly easy to make with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. 

Why You'll Love These Fudgy Brownies

• Rich Coffee Flavor - The addition of instant espresso powder infuses these brownies with a bold espresso flavor that perfectly complements the rich chocolatey goodness.
• Fudgy Texture - Say goodbye to dry, cakey brownies! These espresso brownies boast a moist, fudgy center with a crispy-chewy top that'll have you reaching for seconds.
• Easy Preparation - No fancy equipment or culinary skills are required here! Just a few simple steps and common ingredients will reward you with the most indulgent espresso brownies you've ever tasted. With everyday pantry staples like cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and flour, you can whip up a batch of these decadent brownies in no time.

Instant Espresso Powder, Regular Espresso Powder, and Espresso Granules - What's the difference?

For this recipe, I use instant espresso powder. The instant version is finely ground and highly concentrated, making it ideal for baking and adding a strong coffee flavor to recipes without affecting texture. Regular espresso powder, on the other hand, is coarser and less concentrated, often used for brewing espresso or as a flavoring agent in savory dishes.

Although both espresso powder and granules, sometimes called crystals, are made from espresso beans, the granules have a more coarse or grainy texture compared to the powder version. The crystals are more commonly used to make a quick cup of espresso-like beverages. Since the powder dissolves easily in liquids, it is ideal for baking a cooking applications where a smooth texture is needed.

Substitutions

Chocolate Chips - If you don't have bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chips, feel free to use one type of chocolate chip instead. You can substitute milk chocolate chips for a sweeter flavor or dark chocolate chips for a more intense taste.

Instant Espresso Powder - If you cannot find instant espresso powder, you can use instant coffee granules instead. While the flavor profile may vary slightly, instant coffee will still provide that delicious coffee kick to your brownies.

Unsalted Butter - If you only have salted butter in your pantry, you can use it in this recipe. Omit the additional salt in the recipe to avoid over-salting the brownies.

Brown Sugar - Light brown sugar adds a subtle caramel flavor to the brownies, but you can use dark brown sugar if that's what you have on hand. The brownies will have a slightly deeper flavor with dark brown sugar.

Variations

• Nutty Espresso Brownies - Add chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the brownie batter for a crunch and nutty flavor. Fold them into the batter before pouring it into the baking pan. I recommend about 1 cup.
• Mocha Brownies - Enhance the coffee flavor by adding a handful of chocolate chunks to the brownie batter and chocolate chips. The combination of rich chocolate and espresso will make these brownies simply irresistible.
• Espresso Glaze - Top the cooled brownies with a sweet espresso glaze made from powdered sugar and brewed espresso for an extra burst of coffee flavor. Drizzle the glaze over the brownies and let it set before slicing and serving.
• Salted Caramel Espresso Brownies - Elevate your brownies with a decadent salted caramel sauce. After baking, drizzle warm salted caramel sauce over the cooled brownies and sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a sweet and salty indulgence.
• Brownie Sundae - Top these perfect brownies with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce. These would be amazing with my No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream.

What You Need to Make These Homemade Brownies

For a complete list of ingredients and amounts, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How To Make These Easy Espresso Brownies

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line an 8"x 8" or 9"x 9" pan with parchment paper, set aside.

Step 2. In a glass measuring cup, heat water in the microwave until boiling. Add in espresso powder and stir until combined. Set aside.

Step 3. In a heavy, medium-sized saucepan, melt butter. Add sugars and chocolate chips. Stir until combined. Add in espresso. Stir to combine. Remove from heat. Add the vanilla extract. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.

Step 4. Add in dry ingredients and stir with a large spatula just until no streaks of dry ingredients appear. Pour brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it.

Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool completely before cutting and serving.

Storage and Freezing

Store these brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. 

To freeze these brownies, cool completely. Wrap individual brownies tightly in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or gently reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds.

Natalie's Pro Tips

If you want to enhance the espresso flavor, try using a strong coffee shot instead of some hot water when dissolving the espresso powder.

Use high-quality cocoa powder and chocolate to achieve the best flavor and texture in your espresso brownies. I recommend Ghirardelli or Hershey's cocoa powder and Ghirardelli chocolate chips. Trust me, it makes all the difference!

Don't overbake these brownies. They will be dry and crumbly. The brownies will continue to set as they cool and be fudgy and delicious. 

Notes and FAQs

More Recipes You Might Enjoy

• No Bake Cherry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
• Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese
• Apple Roses with Puff Pastry

I hope you enjoy these irresistible homemade espresso chocolate brownies as much as I do. If you try this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating and let me know how they turned out in the comments below.