To Arthur.... Guinness Brownies!

Today is September 27th 2012....meaning it's Arthur's Day 2012! Arhur's day commemorates the man behind the magic that is Guinness! At 17.59 today, everybody lifted their pint of the black stuff.....to Arthur! This evening I wasn't feeling too great so going out for Arthur's day was off the cards. I'm inflicted with the female form of man-flu...which of course is commonly know as a cold! Instead of heading out, I decided to make some alcoholic treats for Molly and I to enjoy at home along with a box of Kleenex! These brownies are ridiculously rich! They boast a gooey chocolate and Guinness centre, topped with a bailey and cream cheese layer and finally Jameson infused chocolate for the all important penmanship! I gobbled one down with a hot whiskey, whilst Molly tucked into his with the perfect accompaniment a pint of Guinness!

Guinness Brownies with Baileys & Jameson Top

The Brownie 
Ingredients:
240g Plain flour
100g Cocoa Powder
225g butter
400g sugar
½ teaspoon salt
125ml Guinness
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 tablespoons Jameson
1 teaspoon baking soda

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 160C. Line a 13 x 9 inch tin with tin foil.Place the butter and sugar in a free- 
    standing mixer on a medium speed and beat until well combined. Then slowly add the egg 
    and vanilla essence.
2. Place the cocoa powder, flour, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Then add ½ of the flour 
    mix into the mixer, followed by ½ of the Guinness. Gently mix and once combined add the 
    remaining flour, followed by the Guinness. Mix together slowly until well combined. 
3. Remove 4 tablespoons of the mixture and place in a bowl, then pour the Jameson into the 
    bowl and mix well and place in the fridge. Put the remaining mixture into the the lined tin, 
    spreading well across the base of the tin. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes.

The Baileys Topping
Ingredients:
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
340g cream cheese
65g icing sugar
60ml Baileys  

Method:
1. Place all of the ingredients into a mixer and beat until well combined.

What Next.......
Remove the chilled Brownie base from the fridge. Pour the Baileys topping over the base. Then using a piping bag complete the writing or decoration of your choice.

    E-D's Notes:

     - These are delicious warm or cold. They keep really well (up to 3 days) if kept in an air tight 

        container.

     -  You can use a piping bag to add any kind of detail or design you wish using the 

        Jameson chocolate topping that you set aside in the fridge. Make sure this is well chilled 

        before starting to pipe....otherwise it can get a little messy!