These Fudgy Kahlua Brownies were rich, dense, and even a bit gooey. Brownie perfection in every bite!

With Kahlua in the batter and Kahlua painted over the top of the baked brownies, the subtle coffee infusion intensified the chocolate flavor with nary a whisper of coffee. If you love a touch of mocha in your brownies, these dreamy Kahlua Brownies are a must-make recipe!!!

Kahlua Brownies on a round white plate with coffee beans and a fork.

Kahlua Brownies

I first made these uber-fudgy Kahlua brownies back in 2011 as part of a blogger secret recipe club. Members were assigned another blog, then given the task of picking a recipe from that blog to make and share on the reveal date. The old photo, seen above the recipe, was actually my first acceptance to one of those food porn sites, Foodgawker. It was actually in focus! But 7+ years later, it was time to make and photograph them again!

Kahlua Brownies on a bed of coffee beans on a square white plate

Why You Must Make

  • Kahlua and chocolate are a match made in heaven!
  • Adding a coffee liqueur to brownies makes them even better! See why below.
  • These brownies are rich, fudgy, and irresistible!

Ingredient Notes

  • Pantry Staples – Flour, Table Salt, Butter (I used salted), Sugar, Large Eggs
  • Baking Powder (affiliate link) – This is not the same as baking soda and has a much shorter shelf life. Most often, you won’t use it all before it expires, so check your tin and buy fresh if it’s out of date. You can check its potency by putting a spoonful in a cup of hot water. It will bubble vigorously if fresh. If it doesn’t, replace it before starting this recipe.
  • Unsweetened Chocolate (affiliate link) – I use the Ghirardelli brand.
  • Kahlua (affiliate link) or another coffee liqueur (most of the alcohol will evaporate as the brownies bake, leaving a subtle coffee flavor which helps enhance the chocolate flavor).

Tips for Making Kahlua Brownies

These have to be some of the fudgiest brownies I’ve ever made. Just look at them!!! Hubby noticed the Kahlua taste immediately, but the boys (both coffee drinkers and chocoholics) felt it was more subtle, and they were all in favor of me making them again.

  • PRO-Tip: Did you know that coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate? The hubby is not a coffee or mocha fan, but I can usually get away with adding a little instant coffee or espresso powder to chocolate desserts.
  • PRO-Tip: Kahlua, a coffee liqueur, is another, more subtle way to add coffee flavor to chocolate baked goods.
  • As with most baked goods, have your butter and eggs at room temperature. But in this case, the butter was to be melted with the chocolate, so cold butter worked fine.
  • PRO-Tip: Typically, I mix brownie batter by hand instead of with a mixer. This is to avoid adding excess air to the batter which takes away from the fudginess. In this case, the sugar and eggs were beaten with a mixer, but when I added the dry ingredients, I kept the mixer on the lowest speed and mixed just until the dry ingredients were incorporated. This also inhibits gluten formation.
  • There is a double dose of Kahlua  in these brownies. First there’s some in the brownie batter, then a tablespoon is brushed over the top of the cooked brownies.
  • PRO-Tip: There isn’t enough liqueur added to provide a strong mocha or coffee flavor. But feel free to add a little instant coffee or espresso powderto the batter in addition to the Kahlua to enhance the coffee flavor.
  • These super dense and fudgy Kahlua brownies cut best when cold. Otherwise you’ll need to wipe and rinse your knife after every slice. Let them sit at room temperature before serving to take the chill off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Know When Brownies Are Done?

Use the recipe directions as a guide, but when you start smelling the delicious aroma of baked brownies, they’re close to being done. The edges should pull away from the sides of the pan, and if you insert a toothpick into the center, it should come out with a few fudgy crumbs, not batter. If you see batter, put the pan back in the oven and check again in 5 to 10 minutes.

Can You Use a Mixer to Make Brownies?

It’s best to stir brownie batter by hand if you want fudgy brownies. Using a mixer will incorporate air into the batter, making the baked brownies more cakey than fudgy.

Can You Add Chocolate Chips to This Brownie Recipe?

Yes, you can add chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, nuts, or even chunks of chocolate candy bars. Mix in about ½-¾ cup before putting the batter into the baking pan.

You May Also Like

Though it doesn’t appear she’s actively blogging anymore, I hope you check out Andi’s blog, The Wednesday Baker. Thanks so much, Andi, for sharing this amazing recipe for the Secret Recipe Club.

Kahlua Brownies on a white plate covered with coffee beans

Photo circa 2019. One of my first ever acceptances to the former food blogger community, Foodbuzz!

Though it doesn’t appear she’s actively blogging anymore, I hope you check out Andi’s blog, The Wednesday Baker. Thanks so much, Andi, for sharing this amazing recipe for the Secret Recipe Club.

You May Also Like

Stay in touch through social media @ InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

Kahlua brownies on a white plate with a red handled fork

Kahlua Brownies

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Yield 16 brownies

Rich, fudgy brownies enhanced by a double dose of Kahlua!

4.8 Stars (33 Reviews)

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup butter (10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons)
  • 3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¼ cup Kahlua plus 1 tablespoon for brushing on top after baked and cooled

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper or foil (I used an 8 x 8-inch pan).
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a heat-proof bowl, gently melt the butter and chocolate, stopping frequently to stir until the mixture is smooth.
  4. In a large mixing bowl combine the sugar with the eggs and beat until light in color.
  5. Add the melted chocolate. Mix to combine.
  6. Add the Kahlua and mix until combined.
  7. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the batter and mix just until combined.
  8. Scrape into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the top springs back when touched lightly in center (with the smaller pan, I baked for 35 minutes), and the edges begin to pull away.
  9. Cool in pan, and when cold, brush the top with the tablespoon of Kahlua. Allow this to absorb for a bit before cutting brownies.

Notes

Adapted from The Wednesday Baker.

You can bake these brownies in an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9-inch pan. The smaller pan will make slightly thicker brownies and will take a little longer to bake.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 brpwnie

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 246Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 157mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 3g

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