Name: Chocolate Stout Brownies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 24 min
Ingredients: 1 cup chocolate stout ((I use Young's Double Chocolate Stout, but you can use your favorite)); 5 oz. dark chocolate ((I use 60% cacao), roughly chopped); 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter; 1 cup light brown sugar; 2/3 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup cocoa powder; 2 large eggs

Looking for a ridiculously rich and fudgy brownie recipe? These Chocolate Stout Brownies are the most decadent brownies I've ever had!

Head-on view of a chocolate stout brownie on a white plate with more brownies, can of chocolate stout, and glass of chocolate stout in background with recipe title at top of image.

Jump to:

🍺 Why use stout in brownies?
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
🗒 Ingredients
🍫 How to make chocolate stout brownies
⏲️ How to store brownies
🎉 Variations on recipe
🥣 More brownie recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

On New Year's Eve morning, I told Chris to pick out a dessert for the evening. I love cooking and baking, but sometimes I hate coming up with ideas for what to cook or bake. He found a (no longer published) recipe for Young's Double Chocolate Stout Brownies and immediately knew it's what he wanted.

Obviously he would pick a dessert involving beer, right? But we're both big fans of Young's Double Chocolate Stout and it was definitely a dessert I could get behind.

We got to baking and after adjusting the original recipe quite a bit, we ended up with the best fudgy brownies ever!

🍺 Why use stout in brownies?

There are several reasons why these chocolate stout brownies are the best brownies ever. And I owe it all to the chocolate and the beer. Not only is there actual chocolate in these brownies (I recommend 60% cacao for the best richness!), but there's also cocoa powder and a little more chocolate flavor and richness in the form of the chocolate stout.

All of that chocolate, plus the beer, plus the small amount of flour results in the most fudgy brownies you've ever had. Pure heaven.

Have you tried chocolate stout before? It's the kind of beer that even people who don't like beer enjoy. It has a light chocolate flavor and isn't hoppy at all and is a good introduction beer for anyone who may be apprehensive. Young's Double Chocolate Stout is my go-to chocolate stout!

Hand holding a can of Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

The stout adds moisture to the brownie batter and results in ultra rich brownies. The carbonation from the beer also helps aerate the batter, which results in lighter and softer brownies than you may be used to.

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

You'll love this chocolate stout brownie recipe in large part because they're so much more delicious than the average brownies!

But they're also incredibly easy to make and can also be customized in so many different ways.

🗒 Ingredients

The ingredients for these brownies are pretty simple. Here's everything you need (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):

Chocolate stout: I like Young's Double Chocolate Stout, but you can use your favorite. Samuel Smith (Chocolate Stout), Rogue (Chocolate Stout), Southern Tier (Choklat Stout), Founders (Breakfast Stout), and Brooklyn Brewery (Black Chocolate Stout) also make good ones.
Dark chocolate: I recommend using a high quality 60% cacao chocolate bar, but you can use the chocolate of your choice.
Unsalted butter
Light brown sugar
All-purpose flour
Cocoa powder
Large eggs

🍫 How to make chocolate stout brownies

As I've mentioned, this brownie recipe is so easy to make and if you've ever made from-scratch brownies before, you'll have no problem at all!

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and lining an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper.

Then pour the chocolate stout into a measuring cup and set it aside to let the foam settle.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout in a can with beer in a cup next to it.

Get out your double boiler or build a makeshift one like I do (just bring a pot of water water to a gentle simmer and place a heat-safe bowl over it. Make sure the bowl fits tightly so no steam can escape).

Place the chocolate in the bowl with the butter.

Chopped chocolate and cubed butter in double. boiler.

Stir until melted and smooth.

Chocolate and butter melted together with whisk in double boiler.

Remove from heat and using a hand mixer, beat in the sugar. Now, set the bowl aside and allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder.

Once the chocolate mixture is lukewarm, beat in the eggs until the mixture looks glossy. Then stir in the chocolate stout. And fold in the flour/cocoa mixture.

Take care not to over-mix, but if you have to use the hand mixer for a minute to get rid of lumps, that's fine.

Chocolate stout brownie batter in double boiler.

Now pour the brownie batter into your prepared pan.

And pop it in the oven for 20-24 minutes until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out sticky, but not wet.

Let the brownies cool in the pan before removing and cutting into 16 squares. To add some "fancy," sprinkle some confectioners' sugar over the top.

Overhead view of a chocolate stout brownie on a white plate with can of Young's Double Chocolate Stout, glass of beer, and more brownie squares in background.

And let yourself marvel at how these chocolate stout brownies are more like pure fudge than brownies. In the best way possible.

Make sure you have a glass of cold chocolate beer ready to drink along with your brownies. OK, fine champagne will do, too, especially if it's New Year's Eve.

Landscape overhead photo of chocolate stout brownie with can of Young's Double Chocolate Stout and more brownies lined up in background.

If you've long been on a search for the best fudgy brownies, your search is now over. You have found them. They are these chocolate stout brownies.

The stout flavor definitely isn't overpowering in the brownies, but you can tell it's there. In the best way possible.

To get 16 squares, you cut these brownies pretty small, but just a small square is all you need to feel perfectly satisfied and happy. Trust me.

If you're looking for a brownie that packs in the protein, try these banana protein brownies!

⏲️ How to store brownies

You can store the chocolate stout brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

If you're not eating them right away, I recommend waiting to cut them until you're ready to serve them; though, of course, you can also store sliced brownies (keeping them whole will help retain the moisture a bit better).

If slicing and storing, place a layer of wax paper or parchment paper in between layers if you're stacking them, otherwise, brownies may stick together.

If you want to keep for longer than a few days, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

🎉 Variations on recipe

These brownies are so perfectly chocolatey and fudge-like, I think they're pretty much perfection. But that doesn't mean you can't make changes or include add-ins to this recipe!

Here are some fun ideas:

You can spread a frosting over the brownies or drizzle with chocolate ganache or caramel sauce.

For extra chocolate flavor, you can fold chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

If you like the chocolate and mint flavor combination, you can mix in mint chips. The same goes for peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips.

Adding espresso to the brownie batter will enhance the delicious chocolate flavor even more.

You can also add chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans) to the batter for some extra flavor, texture, and crunch.

Swirl in peanut butter or caramel sauce to the brownie batter in the pan before baking. You can also swirl in cream cheese for a chocolate stout cheesecake brownie recipe.

Add chopped raspberries or strawberries to the batter for a tasty chocolate and fruit combination.

Mix a little cayenne powder or chili powder into the batter for the perfect spicy kick!

Head-on view of a chocolate stout brownie on a white plate with more brownies, can of chocolate stout, and glass of chocolate stout in background.

Now that I have these chocolate stout brownies in my life, I never want to make another brownie recipe again. I have found brownie bliss and I am at peace.

🥣 More brownie recipes

Though I think these are the best fudgy brownies ever, I have lots of brownie recipes I love for many different reasons. Here are some of my favorites:

Reese's Pieces Peanut Buttery Brownies
Mint Chocolate Brownies
Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies
Salted Caramel Brownies (from Bake and Bacon)
Butterscotch Tahini Brownies (from Baking with Aimee)

If you just love the batter, try my edible brownie batter recipe!

And if you want more ways to enjoy chocolate stout, try my recipe for Chocolate Stout Ice Cream and my Chocolate Stout Cupcakes!

Do you have a brownie recipe you love?

📖 Recipe