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  1. Food and Cooking
  2. Recipes
  3. Guinness Brownies

Guinness Brownies

The ultimate St. Paddy's Day treat!

By Josh MillerUpdated: Feb 27, 2025
Star FillStar FillStar FillStar FillHalf Star
4.7
3 Ratings
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the pioneer woman's guinness brownies recipe
Will Dickey
Yields:
16 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
the pioneer woman's guinness brownies recipe

These Guinness brownies may not be green, but they're Irish enough to keep you from getting pinched by those leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day! Now, you may be thinking, "brownies and beer?" But trust this: dark, coffee-scented Guinness is a great flavor pairing with chocolate, intensifying the rich, fudgy flavor of these brownies. Of all the delicious chocolate recipes out there, these brownies are extra special due to their easy, eye-catching swirls of caramel-colored cream cheese. Everyone will feel lucky one of these treats at the St. Patrick's Day celebration!

How do you keep brownies from sticking to the pan?

The key is to line the pan in aluminum foil, then coat the foil well with nonstick cooking spray. When you line it with foil, make sure there's some overhang on at least two opposite sides. Once the brownies are done baking, you can use the overhang like handles to lift the brownies out of the pan.

What does Guinness beer taste like?

A traditional St. Patrick's Day drink, Guinness is an Irish dry stout beer made from malted and roasted barley. The roasted barley in particular gives Guinness the slight aroma of roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate, which makes it a great ingredient for adding to chocolate desserts like these brownies.

Are Guinness brownies safe for kids to eat?

Because the beer in this recipe is brought to boil and cooked for almost 20 minutes, there's very little (if any) alcohol left. While these brownies don't taste like beer, the Guinness does have a slight bitter, tangy bite that is delicious with chocolate. So this might be a St. Patrick's Day dessert that will be most appreciated by adults.

How do you make pretty swirled brownies?

Making gorgeous swirled brownies is actually super easy! Simply spread the brownie batter evenly into the pan, then dollop the cream cheese mixture over the top with a tablespoon, spacing the dollops evenly. Then, drag a wooden skewer or knife through the dollops like you're writing an "S" to swirl the colors together to your liking.

How do you store Guinness brownies?

Place the brownies in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for to three days.

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Ingredients

  • 1

    (15-ounce) can Irish stout beer (such as Guinness)

  • 2 1/2 cups

    plus 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar, divided

  • 2 Tbsp.

    freshly brewed coffee

  • 1 Tbsp.

    vanilla extract

  • 3

    (4-ounce) bars semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

  • 3/4 cup

    unsalted butter

  • 1 1/2 cups

    plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided

  • 1/2 tsp.

    plus 1 pinch salt, divided 

  • 3

    large eggs, divided

  • 4 oz.

    cream cheese, softened

  • Nonstick cooking spray 

Directions

    1. Step 1In a medium saucepan, bring the beer to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the beer is reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 1/4 cup brown sugar, coffee, and the vanilla. Let cool for 10 minutes.
    2. Step 2Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted, stirring in between each interval. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
    3. Step 3In a large bowl, stir together 2 1/4 cups brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups of the flour, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the chocolate mixture and 3/4 cup of the Guinness syrup mixture to the flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Add the eggs; whisk to combine.
    4. Step 4In a small bowl, stir together the softened cream cheese, the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and the remaining 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the reserved Guinness syrup mixture until the cream cheese mixture is smooth.
    5. Step 5Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the brownie batter evenly in the pan. Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture, with a little space in between each spoonful, over the brownie batter. Swirl them together using a knife or toothpick to make an even layer.
    6. Step 6Bake until the brownies are set and a tester comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.

    7. Note: This recipe has been updated since it was originally published. The ingredient quantities and bake time have been adjusted.

Tip: These brownies can be made three days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. 

Love this recipe? Try one of these next!
  • Chocolate Guinness Cake
  • Cheesecake Brownies
  • Guinness Float
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