Hey!
I’m totes back…and…I made brownies!
I would apologize for the brief hiatus in the last few weeks, but, truth be told…I’m not super sorry about it since I was living life, soaking in some solid family and friend time, and clocking as much niece time as I could. Twelve days ago my newest niece was born and I just can’t resist snuggling new born babes–they’re a wonder, it’s for real. It was an exciting trip home, but I’m glad to be back with my husband, pups, and cooking in my own kitchen.
Anyway, about the brownies! There’s nothing about Rocky Road that I don’t like–chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts–so much texture. These are a rich, fudgy, sticky, gooey, and crunchy. Instead of the standard marshmallow, I switched it up and made these coffee flavored. I tried to bake the marshmallows into the brownies, but that resulted in a soggy, melted, marshmallow mistake. Since the mallows were homemade I added them at the end of baking, which lets them melt a bit into the brownie, forming an irresistible topping.
Rocky Road Brownies
I adapted my fave brownie recipe for this, you could probably use whatever one you like best with fine results.
Coffee Marshmallows:
adapted from Chuck Hughes
4 teaspoons powdered gelatin
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee or espresso (I used 6 teaspoons instant espresso dissolved in 1/2 cup water)
1 1/2 cups granulatred sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting
In a small bowl, soften gelatin in 2/3 cup water for about 5 minutes.
Prepare an 8x8inch pan by lining with parchment and spraying lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan combine 1/2 cup espresso with the sugar, heat over medium high to dissolve and bring syrup to a low boil. Cook 1 minute, remove from heat, and stir in gelatin until it is completely dissolved and combined.
Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the syrup until it become light in color, voluminous, and holds a medium-stiff peak. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and dust the top with powdered sugar. Allow to set up several hours before cutting and rolling each piece in powdered sugar. Can be kept in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Brownie:
adapted from Alice Medrich’s Best Cocoa Brownie recipe.
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 cup flour
Topping:
1/4 cup chopped almonds
10 marshmallows, cut in half
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350*F. Prepare an 8×8 pan by greasing and lining with parchment. Set aside.
Fashion a double boiler out of a saucepan and a large, heatproof mixing bowl. Add butter, chocolate, sugar, cocoa, and salt–stir to combine until butter is melted and the mixture feels hot to the touch. Set aside and allow to cool to just warm.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla, then, add eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition. Add flour and combine. Once flour is incorporated, continue to stir vigorously for about 40 strokes. Pour into a prepared 8×8 baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownie comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Remove the brownie from the oven, top with almonds, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Return to the oven, turn off heat, and allow the topping to melt onto the brownie top for 3-5 minutes in the still warm oven. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.
I need to make coffee marshmallows ASAP. And guuuuurl these look damn good. Congrats on having two little nieces! How fun!
yeah, girl! Thanks, tiny nieces are the best!
Oh my, these look heavenly! The coffee marshmallows are just perfect for these…genius move!
thanks Mallory!
Girl.
🙂
Mmmm coffee marshmallows. That is most definitely something I’d like to stick in a s’more. But these brownies will do just fine 🙂
they’d be great in a s’more!
oh my word. these look absolutely TO DIE FOR.
I love love LOVE anything with almonds.
yes! me too, girl, me too!
I’m glad you’re back! I got worried! These look amazing (what’s new?)! I just made marshmallows on Friday and was thinking peppermint for the next time. Never considered coffee…that is a brilliant idea! xo
haha, thanks Tiffanie! Those donut marshmallows are SO CUTE!
thank goodness you’re back! these look SO GOOD… and omg, coffee marshmallows?! seriously? awesome!
So glad you had a fun time with your nieces 🙂 Those brownies! Whoa!
Congrats on your new niece! That’s so exciting. I can’t wait til my siblings have babies for me to play with 🙂
These brownies look soooo fudgey and rich!
oh. my. god.
if i bake this, i will become the queen of my office.
my only question is, being in a bind for all of the morning rush BS, can i use plain ole store bought marshmellows instead?
it certainly won’t do the brownies as much justice as your coffee ones, but hey, 7am is not my best friend.
i’ve recently become obsessed with your blog and these are totally happening! my question is, what’s the yield on the marshmallows? will one recipe of marshmallows be enough if i double the brownie part of the recipe, or do i need to double the whole thing? thanks!
one batch of the marshmallows will definitely be enough for two batches of brownies–you may even have some left 🙂