Tiramisu Brownies: Espresso & Cream Delight

Servings: 10 Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins
Tiramisu Brownies: Espresso & Cream Delight
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Tiramisu Brownies are the perfect fusion of two popular desserts. You get the dense, chocolatey richness of a brownie with the creamy, coffee-infused flavor of tiramisu. This dessert starts with a fudgy brownie base infused with espresso and bittersweet chocolate. On top of that, there’s a layer of light, creamy mascarpone cheese mixed with vanilla and espresso, just like in a traditional tiramisu. To finish, the brownies are dusted with unsweetened cocoa powder, tying the whole thing together.

What You’ll Need to Make Tiramisu Brownies

For this recipe, you’ll be making two components: the brownie base and the mascarpone tiramisu layer.

For the Brownie Base:

  • 70% Bittersweet Chocolate: This is key for that deep, rich chocolate flavor.
  • Cocoa Powder: Enhances the chocolate intensity.
  • Espresso Powder: Adds a subtle coffee flavor that complements the chocolate and brings out its depth.
  • Dark Brown and Granulated Sugar: The combination of these two sugars ensures the brownies are sweet, moist, and chewy.
  • Eggs, Butter, Flour: Standard brownie ingredients that bind everything together and create that fudgy texture.

For the Tiramisu Layer:

  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: A light dusting on top ties in the tiramisu element and adds a touch of bitterness to balance the sweetness.
  • Mascarpone Cheese: The star ingredient in traditional tiramisu, it adds a smooth, creamy layer.
  • Heavy Cream: Whipped to lighten the mascarpone layer, making it airy and fluffy.
  • Espresso and Vanilla: These flavors are mixed into the mascarpone to mimic the classic tiramisu taste.

How to Make Tiramisu Brownies

1. Make the Espresso Brownie Base: Start by melting your bittersweet chocolate and butter together until smooth and glossy. Stir in the espresso powder, which will infuse the chocolate with a subtle coffee flavor that enhances the richness of the brownies. Then, whisk in the sugars to create a sweet and chewy base.

Once the chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, add your eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This step ensures a glossy, fudgy texture in your brownies. Finally, fold in the flour and cocoa powder until just combined. Pour the mixture into a greased baking pan and bake until set.

2. Prepare the Tiramisu Layer: While the brownies are cooling, prepare the mascarpone topping. Start by whisking the heavy cream until soft peaks form. In a separate bowl, mix the mascarpone with sugar, vanilla extract, and espresso until smooth. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to create a light, airy topping.

3. Assemble: Once the brownies have completely cooled, spread the mascarpone mixture evenly over the top. Use a fine sieve to dust a generous layer of unsweetened cocoa powder over the mascarpone. This adds the final tiramisu touch, balancing the sweetness with a hint of bitterness.

Tips for Perfect Tiramisu Brownies

  • Serving Suggestions: These brownies are rich, so serving them with a cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes for a perfect pairing
  • Don’t Overmix the Brownie Batter: Overmixing can cause the brownies to become dense. Stir just until everything is combined for the best fudgy texture.
  • Chill Before Serving: Let the brownies chill for at least an hour before cutting. This helps the layers set and makes slicing easier.
  • Customizing the Flavors: If you want a stronger coffee flavor, feel free to add a bit more espresso powder to either the brownie base or mascarpone layer.

Why You’ll Love These Tiramisu Brownies

These Tiramisu Brownies are an indulgent treat that brings together the best of both worlds. The fudgy, espresso-infused brownies give you that rich chocolate flavor, while the creamy mascarpone layer adds lightness and a luxurious texture. Whether you’re a tiramisu lover, a brownie fan, or just looking for something different, these brownies are sure to satisfy.

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Tiramisu Brownies: Espresso & Cream Delight

Prep Time 1 hr Cook Time 25 mins Rest Time 30 mins Total Time 1 hr 55 mins
Cooking Temp: 350  F Servings: 10
Best Season: Suitable throughout the year, Fall, Winter

Description

Tiramisu Brownies are the perfect fusion of two popular desserts. You get the dense, chocolatey richness of a brownie with the creamy, coffee-infused flavor of tiramisu. This dessert starts with a fudgy brownie base infused with espresso and bittersweet chocolate.

Ingredients

Espresso Brownies:

Espresso Cream:

Dusting:

Instructions

Prepare the Brownie Base:

  1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Prep the Baking Dish: Butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking dish and line it with parchment paper. This makes it easier to remove the brownies later.
  3. Melt the Butter and Chocolate: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, remove it from the heat and add the chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth. If the chocolate doesn’t fully melt, you can return it to low heat for a few seconds, but be careful not to overheat.
  4. Let it Cool: Set the chocolate mixture aside to cool down a bit.
  5. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, espresso powder, and cocoa powder. This helps ensure there are no lumps.
  6. Beat the Eggs and Sugars: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Using a mixer with a whisk attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the mixture on high speed for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until it thickens, turns pale, and falls in ribbons from the beater.
  7. Combine Mixtures: Gently fold the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined.
  8. Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: Carefully fold in the sifted flour, espresso powder, and cocoa powder, being cautious not to deflate the airy texture you’ve created with the eggs.
  9. Bake the Brownies: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth it out. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the top is slightly cracked and feels soft to the touch.
  10. Cool: Once baked, allow the brownies to cool completely on a wire rack before adding the espresso cream on top.

Prepare the Espresso Cream:

  1. Mix the Mascarpone and Heavy Cream: In a large bowl, combine the mascarpone cheese and heavy cream. Beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds until they’re well mixed.
  2. Add Flavors: Sprinkle in the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla bean paste, and espresso powder. Beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, which should take about 1-2 minutes.

Assemble the Tiramisu Brownies:

  1. Top the Brownies: Spread the espresso cream evenly over the cooled brownies using a spatula.
  2. Dust with Cocoa: To finish, use a fine mesh sieve to dust the top with cocoa powder, giving it that classic tiramisu look.
  3. Cut and Serve: Cut into squares and serve, or store them in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy!
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Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
Q: Can I use regular cocoa powder instead of Dutch-process cocoa?

A: Absolutely! Regular cocoa powder will work fine if you don’t have Dutch-process cocoa on hand. Just keep in mind that Dutch-process cocoa has a richer, smoother chocolate flavor, which pairs beautifully with the espresso in this recipe.

Q: What can I use instead of mascarpone cheese?

A: If mascarpone isn't available, you can create a substitute by mixing cream cheese with heavy cream. However, using mascarpone gives you the best flavor and texture. You can usually find it in the specialty cheese section of most grocery stores, and it’s worth the effort!

Q: How should I store these brownies?

A: For the best freshness, keep these brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll last up to 4 days. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap before freezing.

Q: Is there a way to add some alcohol to this recipe, like in a classic tiramisu?

A: While the original recipe doesn’t include alcohol, you can certainly add a splash of coffee liqueur to the mascarpone layer if you’d like that traditional tiramisu twist!

Q: Can I make the espresso cream layer in advance?

A: Yes, you can prepare the espresso cream up to a day ahead of time. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, give it a quick whisk to fluff it up before spreading it over the brownies.

Q: How do I know when the brownies are finished baking?

A: Look for a slightly cracked top that feels soft to the touch. A toothpick test isn’t the best here since you want some crumbs to cling to it, not completely clean. Be careful not to overbake them if you want to keep that fudgy texture!

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