Recipe: Fudgy Espresso Brownies

Fudgy Espresso Brownies

I've been told there are people who like their brownies to be cakey, but I've never fully understood this. Why not opt for chocolate cake? These brownies are decidedly un-cakey - they're full of melted chocolate and butter and whipped eggs. Only a sprinkle of flour holds them together and a current of espresso runs through them, bringing out the nuanced flavors of the chocolate. They definitely require a glass of milk.

The trickiest part of making brownies is knowing when they're done. For most baked treats, a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean. But for fudgy brownies, the toothpick test doesn't work - when the brownies are cooked perfectly, the toothpick comes out covered in gooey chocolate. The best way around this is to simply set a timer.

Makes one (8-inch square) pan

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
8 ounces good-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup espresso, cooled
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup almond flour

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square (or equivalent) baking dish with parchment paper.

In a double boiler, slowly melt the butter and the chocolate, stirring often and being careful not to scorch the chocolate at all. Once melted, stir in the salt and let cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until the mixture lightens in color and thickens significantly, about 3 - 4 minutes. When you lift the beaters up out of the mixture, the beaten eggs and sugar should form a thick ribbon that falls back into the bowl, rests on the surface of the mixture for a moment, and then slowly sinks in.

Pour the melted chocolate mixture and the espresso down the sides of the bowl, and use a rubber spatula to fold them into the beaten eggs. Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and almond flour, then gently but quickly fold them in.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 27 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely in the dish, then cut into squares and serve.