Sometimes you just need a big warm hug… and sometimes you need a warm brownie with ice cream. In my book, no other taste quite satisfies that craving for warm gooey chocolate that strikes daily occasionally. I just got these adorable mini cast iron skillets and have been brainstorming fun ways to use them. First things first: individual espresso chocolate chunk skillet brownies, of course!
I’ve been making brownies for years, and for me there are two ingredients that really elevate them to something special. Chunks of chocolate folded into the batter (’cause, you know, they need to be even more decadent) and a shot of strong espresso to really bring out the chocolate flavor in the best possible way. Now all you moms out there can just calm down — it’s such a small amount of espresso that I promise, your kids will not be hyped up on caffeine all night. So let them live a little.
Serve these in the skillets right out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. They look grown-up-fancy-dinner-party-worthy, but will totally bring out the happy kid in everyone.
*photos by Kate LeSueur
Espresso Chocolate Chunk Skillet Brownies
Serves 5 skillet brownies
Espresso Chocolate Chunk Skillet Brownies
Categories
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks, divided
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup espresso, allowed to cool slightly
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Melt the butter, 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chunks, and the unsweetened chocolate together in a medium bowl in the microwave (list directions.) Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla and sugar. Slowly whisk in the espresso a little at a time, then stir the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
- In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the flour, the baking powder and salt and whisk into the chocolate mixture just until combined. Toss together the remaining chocolate chunks and one tablespoon of flour and fold them into the brownie batter. Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup to scoop batter into five 3 1/2 inch cast iron skillets (sprayed with cooking spray) and place them on a sheet pan. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream on top and drizzled with chocolate sauce.
so, i’m assuming you are making these for Christmas dinner?
Hmm, not a bad idea… 😉
Gosh these are adorable and look delicious! Would be perfect for the “kids table” at holiday dinners. Also, something about them reminds me of going out to eat as a kid and being allowed to get dessert that time, sigh, nostalgia!
I know just what you mean — I think I always ordered some kind of brownie sundae with ice cream (and hot fudge, maraschino cherries, whipped cream, etc) Good times. 🙂
Where did you get the little skillets? SOOOO cute!
ooh great question! it’s these: http://bit.ly/1Pky8Bw
The brownies look wonderful, and so does your sweater in that last pic. Would you mind sharing where it’s from?
Thanks lady, it’s from Madewell!