Dark chocolate espresso brownies with vanilla salt

22 Jun

In my home brownies are foods of the gods for the under-ten set. Whenever I make a batch I have little people clammering for a piece.

Step aside, kids.

This is a brownie with the caffeine level turned UP, making it a perfect choice for that 3pm slump when the need for something sweet and a decent coffee is overwhelming.

Vanilla salt is my new BFF – I discovered it on Saturday at a Sydney food emporium called Salts, Meat, Cheese. Their salt section is heavenly. I used this salt in three sweet things in one day so it is fair to say that it is going to be on high rotation. If you can’t find vanilla salt I reckon it would be relatively easy to make – am sure our friends at Google could help you find a recipe 😉

Do not substitute milk chocolate in this recipe – you want a dark, preferably bitter chocolate to marry with the espresso.

Keep on eye on the baking time, especially if your oven is on the hot side. In my oven 16 minutes produced a dense, fudge-like brownie, which is exactly the texture I was hoping for.

GATHER:

125 grams butter, cubed

200 grams dark chocolate

1 shot espresso

2 eggs

1 ¼ cup plain flour

¼ cup caster sugar

sprinkle of vanilla salt

LET’S GET TO IT:

Preheat oven to 180 C, grease & line a 20cm square cake pan with baking paper, allowing 2 edges to overhang.

Melt butter and dark chocolate in a large pan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, allow to cool 10 minutes.

Stir sugar, eggs, flour and espresso shot into melted chocolate mix until just combined.

Pour into pan and sprinkle over the vanilla salt.

Bake for 16 minutes – you want a moist, fudge-like texture.

Cool in pan. When completely cold cut into squares.

Tags: baking, butter, chocolate, coffee, cooking, dark chocolate, espresso, from scratch, one bowl, recipe, sugar, vanilla salt

Comments 42 Comments
Categories brownies, Fast & simple, from scratch, one bowl

42 Responses to “Dark chocolate espresso brownies with vanilla salt”

marieandtheappletree June 22, 2015 at 4:26 am #

That looks amazing

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- thehungrymum June 22, 2015 at 5:48 am #
  
  Thank you so much 😉
  
  Reply
Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella June 22, 2015 at 4:55 am #

The texture on these brownies looks so good!! 😀

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- thehungrymum June 22, 2015 at 5:50 am #
  
  Thanks – pulling the brownies out of the oven at the right time for a fudgey texture is stressful!
  
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Gary Lum June 22, 2015 at 6:27 am #

Wow, they sound amazing. I’ve never tried vanilla salt before. I’m just thinking as I feel sleepy I need one of those for a kick start 😀

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- thehungrymum June 22, 2015 at 6:44 am #
  
  Vanilla salt will rock your world! It tastes exactly as you think it would! I added it to cake and the small was amazing. ps – sending carrier pigeon your way with brownies 😉
  
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  - Gary Lum June 22, 2015 at 8:22 am #
    
    I can’t wait to start reintroducing some sweet treats once I’ve got down to my desired weight. So far so good. Then I can treat treats like a really special event 😀
  - thehungrymum June 22, 2015 at 8:29 am #
    
    That’s exactly what they should be – treats. I think we are all guilty of being OTT when it comes to indulging 😉
cheergerm June 22, 2015 at 10:33 am #

Yeah, step aside kids. Vanilla salt!? Hoo ha!

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 11:09 am #
  
  Yep, waaaaay too fancy for the kids. #allForMe
  
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Shanshan Lam (@food_religion) June 22, 2015 at 11:54 am #

vanilla salt? wow that’s def fancy smancy! love it!

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 11:11 am #
  
  Yeah, it is just amazing! If you can get your hands on it I suggest sprinkling it liberally on everything you bake 😉
  
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Jess @ whatjessicbakednext.com June 22, 2015 at 12:12 pm #

These brownies look divine! Love the espresso and the sound of the vanilla salt! YUM! 😀

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 11:09 am #
  
  Hey, thanks Jess! Vanilla salt is a wonderful thing 😉
  
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Nicole - Champagne and Chips June 22, 2015 at 1:30 pm #

YUM! The perfect morning tea pick-me-up. They look so so good.

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 11:08 am #
  
  Cheers! Every time I see your blog name I reallllly want a glass of champers and a packet of crinkle cut chips!
  
  Reply
chef mimi June 22, 2015 at 1:38 pm #

These brownies look so so good! I especially love the combo of chocolate and coffee. My mother always added a little coffee to anything made with chocolate – it adds that little je ne sais quoi! But the vanilla salt definitely puts these over the top!!!

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 9:23 am #
  
  Thanks! I don’t often mix choc and coffee but your mum’s tip makes so such sense!
  
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Linda June 22, 2015 at 5:02 pm #

These look so compacted with fudgey-chocolatey deliciousness!

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 9:24 am #
  
  Best comment of the day – love it 🙂
  
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Laura @ Feast Wisely June 23, 2015 at 7:13 am #

I love the salts at Salt Meat Cheese – they have a great porcini one! I’ll now be tracking down the vanilla one….

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 7:31 am #
  
  It is such an addictive place to shop! I also love the smokey salt, called Durango (I think). Porcini salt would be sooooo good.
  
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Emma June 23, 2015 at 9:33 am #

How wonderfully fudgy these look, the flavours!

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- thehungrymum June 23, 2015 at 11:22 am #
  
  Thanks Emma – I love it when the timing works out and the fudge quota is high!
  
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prairiepalate June 23, 2015 at 3:05 pm #

Those look amazing! I can’t wait to try them. 🙂

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Cathy June 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm #

Chocolate and coffee… more of the world needs to know about this secret! Looks delicious 🙂

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- thehungrymum June 25, 2015 at 1:58 am #
  
  Thanks! It is a very decadent and delish flavour combo x
  
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Chompchomp June 25, 2015 at 12:45 am #

I wonder where I can source vanilla salt from in Perth? AM going to have to do some research!

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- thehungrymum June 25, 2015 at 12:53 am #
  
  I reckon you could prob make yr own in mortar and pestle using coarse salt and vanilla pod. Let me know if you try and how it goes 😉
  
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Sophie33 June 27, 2015 at 10:33 am #

Vanilla salt, hey? This sounds like a wonderful addition in your yummy fudge espresso brownies! ooh yes! A must try! 🙂

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- thehungrymum June 29, 2015 at 7:38 am #
  
  Vanilla salt is so incredible! I sometimes just daydream about all the yummy things I want to add it to 🙂
  
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  - Sophie33 June 30, 2015 at 5:58 pm #
    
    I think it would be great in pancakes, waffles, cakes & into cookies!
Josette@thebrookcook June 29, 2015 at 2:18 am #

I love LOVE brownies- and love how espresso really highlights chocolate flavor. These look amazingly dense- Yum!

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- thehungrymum June 29, 2015 at 4:53 am #
  
  Ta Josette – a dense brownie is my kinda brownie 😉
  
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thefolia July 2, 2015 at 6:12 am #

Love dark chocolate and a touch of salt.

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- thehungrymum July 2, 2015 at 6:14 am #
  
  thanks, it is such a great combo 😉
  
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Sara | Belly Rumbles (@bellyrumbles) July 4, 2015 at 2:42 pm #

Oh hello vanilla salt!! How awesome. Brownies are pretty cool too 😉

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- thehungrymum July 9, 2015 at 12:18 pm #
  
  Isn’t vanilla salt all the fab? I am throwing it in everything these days.
  
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thefolia August 15, 2015 at 9:42 am #

Did someone say espresso brownie…yes please!

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Lynz Real Cooking August 26, 2015 at 11:40 pm #

These sound so good, I love espresso and then mixing with brownies! yumm

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- thehungrymum August 26, 2015 at 11:47 pm #
  
  They were amazing! Please make them – you’ll be glad you did 🙂
  
  Reply
  - Lynz Real Cooking August 26, 2015 at 11:49 pm #
    
    I am sure they were!!!