Irish Brownie Bites

Every guy I've ever met who had Irish in his blood loves chocolate.  He loves all chocolate in its many varieties:cookie, cakes, mousse, pie, brownies, blondies, bars...The list is endless.   This Irish version of a simple brownie bite is sure to please every Irish Man in your life.  Trust me...I know these things.  

I used the cocktail recipe, Lucky Irishman, as the inspiration for these little bits of heaven.  It's a cocktail made with Baileys and Irish whiskey (duh...).  So, in true cocktail fashion, these are a 50/50 mix of those two alcohols in both the brownie and the frosting.  A winning Irish combination, as you've seen here with Jacqueline's Chocolate Stout Cupcakes (with stout and chocolate) and my Luck o' the Irish Cupcakes.  

There is one sneaky secret here: I used canned frosting.  Yes, I know...How could I do such a thing?  Well, I had this canned frosting, not knowing what to do with it.  I wanted something easy to make, with booze.  And, I knew I could zuzz it up to taste better...And, I DID!  

Last little addition: half a Lindor dark truffle.  I know...You thought the booze and brownie were enough.  Again, I needed to do something with these truffles.  I don't eat dark chocolate, but love to bake with it. 

So, truffle meets brownie meets canned frosting meets Lucky Irishman.  So gooooood...

St. Patrick would be proud!

I am sharing this recipe over at Cake of the Week as part of this month's Baking with Spirit Challenge: Irish Cream.   Yeah...

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Step-by-Step

Carefully cut truffles in half using a serrated knife.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, Baileys, Whiskey, oil and eggs.  Mix well, but no more that 60 strokes.  Too much mixing will make your brownies gummy.

Place about 1 tsp batter in the bottom of each prepared mini muffin cup.  

Drop a half truffle, cut side up, in each cup.  

Fill the muffin cup with more batter all the way to the rim. 

Bake for 12 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes in the pan.

Carefully remove from the pan and cool completely on the wire rack.

A few had chocolate oozy breakthrough...No worries.

Start your frosting by mixing up the coffee.  Let this cool.

Beat the butter and cream cheese until combined.  Add the coffee, Baileys and Whiskey.  Mix to combine.  It will be a bit lumpy.

Add the can of chocolate frosting.  Shhhh, it'll be okay.  Just this once...

Beat well for a minute on medium high until light and fluffy.  See, much more silky and much better flavor.  Trust me.

Pipe or spread on cooled brownie bites.  Decorate as you desire!  Refrigerate until the frosting is set.  Gold sprinkles are kinda that pot-o-gold thing, cuz it's St. Patrick's Day, right?

I made a few as the "optional muffin" version with a Dove salted caramel for the center.  They are dynamite!!!!  Especially, warmed in the microwave for about 10 seconds with a scoop of ice cream...LOVED THESE!  Easy, too.  

Yeah, you know you want one...

Irish Brownie Bites

Makes 36 mini bites (or 16-18 muffin bites)

Ingredients

18 Lindor Extra Dark Truffles, cut in half

I pkg brownie mix (I used Pillsbury)

1/3 cup Baileys Irish Cream

1/3 cup Irish Whiskey (I used Tullamore D.E.W.)

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

Chocolate Frosting

2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

2 tbsp cream cheese, softened

1/4 tsp instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tsp hot water (can use instant coffee granules)

2 tsp Baileys Irish Cream

2 tsp Irish Whiskey

I can chocolate frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray.

2. Carefully cut truffles in half using a serrated knife.  Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, Baileys, Whiskey, oil and eggs.  Mix well, but no more that 60 strokes.  Too much mixing will make your brownies gummy.

4. Place about 1 tsp batter in the bottom of each prepared mini muffin cup.  Drop a half truffle, cut side up, in each cup.  Fill the muffin cup with more batter all the way to the rim. 

5. Bake for 12 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes in the pan.

6. Remove from the pan and cool completely on the wire rack.

To make the frosting

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until combined.

2. Add the coffee, Baileys and Whiskey.  Mix to combine.  It will be a bit lumpy.

3. Add the can of chocolate frosting and beat well for a minute on medium high until light and fluffy.

4. Pipe or spread on cooled brownie bites.  Decorate as you desire!  Refrigerate until the frosting is set.

Note: To make the muffin brownie version, follow directions to mix brownie batter.  Fill the bottom of each muffin cup with 1 1/2 tbsp batter.  Place the truffle (or any small chocolate candy) on top.  Add 1 1/2 tbsp more batter to cover.  Bake for 20-22 minutes.  Let cool as directed.  Salted caramels work great and a bit of sea salt on top of the frosting is killer.

I hope you'll try these...Super easy...And, I'm positive that the Lucky Irishman in your life will love you even more!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

Ellen