On the first day of Blogmas…

posted in: Dessert | 4

“12 Days of Christmas” used to be one of my favorite holiday songs. Mostly because as a kid I liked to impress myself with how I could remember what “my true love brings to me” on each of the days (though I never understood why he sent milkmaids??). Did you know that Christmas really did used to be celebrated over a period of 12 days? What dummy ended that tradition?!

Your true love (aka me, obviously) is breaking out all of the stops to bring you some amazing posts in the next couple weeks until Christmas. 12 days to be exact.

There will be GIFTS (for YOU!)!

There will be FOOD (think lots of dessert)!

There will be FUN had by all (like vlogs and other surprises)!

I’m centering it around Christmas because that’s what I celebrate, but Blogmas is for people of all faiths to enjoy. For my Jewish friends out there who are lucky enough to already be celebrating, Happy Hanukkah! I may even have a Hanukkah recipe up my sleeve. 😉

This year has honestly been a rough one for us, mostly for reasons that I don’t mention here on the blog. But I’m using the holidays and the upcoming New Year as a way to refocus on my blessings and get a fresh start. What better way to do that than with a food extravaganza!!!

On the first day of Blogmas, your true love gives to you:

Oh yes. Bailey’s meets brownie. It was a beautiful thing just waiting to happen. These rich fudge brownies have Irish cream baked into them, and a delicious icing made from more Irish cream and drizzled with ganache. I couldn’t come up with a better brownie if I tried.

I brought these to one of my classes along with the espresso-walnut brownies and this was the plate that was completely clean by the end! They are sinfully good.

 

Bailey’s Brownies

by Lauren

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Keywords: dessert chocolate bars

 

Ingredients (2 dozen brownies)

For the brownies

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/3 c. Irish cream
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1 T. vanilla extract
  • 1 c. butter
  • 2 c. sugar
  • 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

For the frosting

  • 1/2 c. butter, softened
  • 2 c. confectioner’s sugar
  • 4-5 T. irish cream
  • 1 t. vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together the cocoa powder, eggs, Irish cream, baking powder, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl.

In a microwave safe bowl, heat the butter and sugar in the microwave on high until the butter melts.

Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the butter and sugar together. Add the combination slowly to the wet ingredients, whisking constantly.

Fold in the flour just until well combined.

Line a 9×13″ baking pan with parchment or baking spray and spread the batter in the pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs on it.

Once the brownies have completely cooled, you can make the icing. Just beat the butter, sugar, irish cream, and vanilla until completely smooth.

Spread the icing over the cooled brownies. Drizzle with ganache if desired and cut into squares or triangles

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To me, nothing says holidays quite like spirits. 😉 I love baking with liquor, and Irish cream is my newest baking fascination. Along with adding flavor, it actually sweetens the dessert and adds moisture because it contains actual cream. I’m in love.

I hope that you’ll join me for the rest of Blogmas! You’re not going to want to miss it.

And because everyone needs a laugh on a Wednesday:

 

Thanks for reading!

-Lauren

4 Responses

  1. Athena R
    |

    Yum! Yum! I know these would be a big hit at any party.

  2. Emily
    |

    OMG. YUM

  3. Justina
    |

    These look great Lauren! I can’t wait to make these as gifts 🙂

  4. cheryl c
    |

    Just found you and I can see you and I have a lot in common! I’ll be back.