Chocolate Espresso Christmas Brownies Recipe

Cookies or brownies? Why not both! These rich fudge brownies are filled with dark chocolate and a hint of espresso. Topped with festive Christmas tree cookies, they’re the perfect holiday treat.

Recipe by: Monique Polanco of @moniquepolanco_

Product Featured: Premier™ Countertop-Safe Bakeware

INGREDIENTS

Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Brownies:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 1/2 oz. premium chocolate, chopped
• 6 tbsp Dutch processed cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp espresso powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/8 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup chocolate chunks or chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar for about 3 minutes. Add egg, vanilla, and cocoa powder. Mix again. Add in all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until incorporated.
3. Roll dough out on a piece of floured parchment paper. Use a small Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out enough trees to cover the brownies. Save the extra dough in a bag and freeze until ready to use. Place cutouts on a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 4 to 6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Brownies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Melt the butter, oil, sugar, chopped chocolate, and cocoa power in the microwave or on the stove top. Let the mixture cool for at least 10 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and espresso powder. Add eggs and mix with a whisk. Add salt and flour and stir. Pour in boiling water and whisk until the batter is smooth. Pour into a nonstick 8-inch square baking pan.
3. Bake for 20 minutes. Scatter Christmas cookies all over the top of the brownies. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Cut into 16 squares, and enjoy!