Guinness Brownies with Salted Caramel Baileys Glaze

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160fan/350f. Line a 20x20cm baking tin with baking parchment, leaving an overhang so you can easily lift the brownies out later.
2. Bring the Guinness to a boil in a small sauce pan, cook until reduced to just under 3 tablespoons worth (50ml). This will take around 5-10 minutes. Don’t walk away from the stove or you will end up with Guinness toffee. I’m speaking from experience! Let it cool. (Reserve 1 tablespoon of Guinness reduction to use in the caramel sauce.)
3. Stir the chocolate and butter in a medium heat-proof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Take off the heat.
4. Whisk the sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Pour in the chocolate mixture, then 2 tablespoons of stout from pan. Fold in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Pour this delicious batter into the pan.
5. Bake until the surface begins to crack and a tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 30-35 minutes. Of course ovens can differ wildly – my brownies were ready in 30 minutes but that doesn’t mean to say yours will be – I suggest you start checking them at 30 minutes.
6. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. I tend to leave my brownies in the fridge overnight – it makes cutting them so much easier.

For the Glaze

1. First of all, you need to make a caramel. Don’t leave the cooker while you’re doing this and don’t have any small children or pets nearby. Place the sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a heavy saucepan over a medium heat, allowing the sugar to dissolve. You can swirl the pan but don’t stir or the sugar can crystallise. Once the sugar has melted, continue to cook on medium heat until you have a golden caramel. Once the colour has changed,
2. Immediately remove from the heat and whisk in the butter until combined. The mixture may “whoosh” up, so be careful.
3. Add the Baileys, Guinness reduction and salt (be very careful – the caramel may splatter). Cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until caramel is smooth.
4. Set the caramel sauce aside for about 10-15 minutes to cool a little. Whisk in the icing sugar, stirring well to dissolve, then stir in the double cream. Stand for about 10-15 minutes before pouring about a third of the glaze over the brownies (keep a little for serving later) in the fridge for about 30 minutes or longer, if needed. When you’re ready to serve the brownies, cut into bars.