Fudgy Homemade Espresso Brownies Recipe

Name: Fudgy Homemade Espresso Brownies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 4 Tablespoons instant espresso powder; ¼ cup hot water; 1 cup unsalted butter; ¾ cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup light brown sugar; ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips; ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips; 4 large eggs (room temperature); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup cocoa powder; 1 cup all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon baking powder

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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.

A serving platter stacked with a pyramid of espresso brownies showing the cut, fudgey edges and insides.

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.

Table of Contents

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.

A pan of brownies that have been cut into squares and placed on a piece of parchment paper.

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

The ingredients needed to make this espresso brownies recipe include:
water, dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, flour, eggs, butter, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, vanillla and instant espresso powder.

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.

A liquid measuring cup filled with hot water and instant expresso powder that is being stirred to combine.

A large saucepan with brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter and chocolate chips.

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.

A medium saucepan with the dry ingredients for the espresso brownies recipe ready to get stirred in.

A saucepan being lifted up and pouring the espresso brownie batter into a metal baking pan,

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

A square pan of baked brownies with crackly tops.

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.

A stack of two Espresso Brownies on a small plate.

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.

An espresso brownie with a large bite taken out of the corner to reveal the inside fudge-like texture.

Notes and FAQs

Can I use regular brewed coffee instead of instant espresso powder?

For best results, I recommend espresso. While brewed coffee is a delicious addition to some of my favorite brownie recipes, I think it enhances the rich chocolate flavor. It does not provide the taste that espresso gives to this recipe. Instant espresso powder provides a more concentrated coffee flavor without adding excess liquid to the batter, resulting in a richer, more intense espresso taste.

Can I use Dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of regular cocoa powder?

Yes, you can use Dutch-processed cocoa powder. It offers a deeper flavor and darker color.

How do I know when the brownies are done baking?

The brownies are done baking when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, rather than wet batter. It's better to slightly underbake them for a fudgier texture than to overbake and risk dry brownies.

Can I double the recipe to make a larger batch of brownies?

Yes, you can double the ingredients to make a larger batch of brownies. Use a 9" x 13" pan when doubling. The baking time will need to be adjusted to account for more brownie batter. I would recommend adding 10 minutes and checking the brownies for doneness.

More Recipes You Might Enjoy

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.