Guinness Stout Chocolate Brownies, Jameson Ganache and Baileys Buttercream frosting are what these Irish Car Bomb Brownies are made of! Decadently sweet, these brownies will satisfy any sweet tooth, even those who aren’t lucky enough to be Irish!
If you like Guinness and Baileys, try these Chocolate Guinness Mini Cakes with Baileys Buttercream
**Disclaimer- This title is in no way meant to be offensive. It is in no relation to the car bombings in Ireland in 1972 and has everything to do with the American beer cocktail, created by Charles Burke Cronin Oat. The Irish Car Bomb features a shot Baileys Irish Cream and Jameson Irish Whiskey being dropped into a pint of Guinness stout, causing a mini explosion.**
It’s about to get real St. Patrick’s Day up in here. My little Irish heart loves this holiday and all the food, festivities and ahem drinking shenanigans involved.
I’m an Irish girl through and through. My maiden name is Gaelic and use to include a “Mc” in the beginning of it but when they got off the boat, the “Mc” was left off.
My first name, Megan, is Welsh but the spelling of Meghan is Irish…go figure!
I have red hair, pale skin and blue eyes. I hated my red hair when I was younger, as I would get teased about it because it was so different from all the other blonde and brunettes in school. Now as a thirty something year old, I love and appreciate my hair color and have zero plans to dye it.
My poor children inherited 2/3 of my Irish traits; pale skin and blue eyes. While I’m proud they’re Irish, I wish they would have gotten their father’s skin complexion. Lifetime stock of sunscreen in this household!
We also named our son, Aiden. (Yes, we spelled it was an “e”) I knew from high school that if I ever had a son, his name would be Aiden and if my husband didn’t like it, it would have been a deal breaker. LOL! I named our son and he named our daughter, fair enough deal.
Aiden is Gaelic, meaning Little Fire and our little boy was born with a touch of red hair that has since disappeared.
Anyways, enough about my Irish family, let’s talk about chocolate brownies, more specifically this Irish Car Bomb Brownie recipe.
These brownies are the bomb, literally! For years, I’ve been making Brown Eyed Baker’s Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes but it was time for my own version of this chocolate boozy triple threat!
ingredients- what you need for Irish Car bomb cake
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- unsweetened cocoa
- packed brown sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- bittersweet chocolate chunks
- butter
- vanilla extract
- Guinness
- 2 large eggs
for Jameson Whiskey Ganache Layer
- semi sweet chocolate chips
- salted butter
- Jameson whiskey
- powdered sugar
for Bailey’s Irish Cream frosting
- unsalted butter, at room temperature
- powdered sugar
- Baileys Irish Cream
- vanilla extract
The frosting is the same frosting from these Chocolate Guinness Mini Cakes with Baileys Buttercream
Step by step instructions
Guinness Brownie Layer
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9×9 pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Combine flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, brown sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.
- Place 1/2 cup chocolate into a heat proof bowl and microwave until melted. Whisk in butter, vanilla and Guinness. Add eggs, one at a time and whisk until combined.
- Add in dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chunks.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Place pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Jameson Ganache Layer
- Once the brownies have cooled start by placing your chocolate into a medium size bowl and microwave until melted.
- Whisk in butter, whiskey and powdered sugar.
- Let set for a minute and then spread evenly over brownies. Allow to set up, about 5 minutes.
Baileys Buttercream Frosting Layer
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or into a large bowl, add in your softened butter and whip, scraping down the sides every minute, for 5 minutes.
- Using 1/2 cup at a time, add in your powdered sugar.
- Once all the powdered sugar has been incorporated add in your Baileys and vanilla extract.
- If the frosting is not to your desired consistency and you’d like it thinner, gradually add in a teaspoon of milk until you’ve reach your desired consistency
- Spread frosting on top of the ganache layer and cut into 12 equal squares.
Stout Brownies from a box mix
I understand not everyone has time to make homemade brownies, so I tested this recipe with a boxed brownie mix.
To make stout brownies from a brownie mix, simply replace equal parts of water (called for on the box) with GUINNESS.
When making these Guinness brownies, I recommend using Ghirardelli mix.
If you have the time, I highly recommend making the brownies from scratch.
how to adapt this recipe and variations
- Use room temperature ingredients such as (eggs, butter and beer)
- Use correct measuring tools. When using dry ingredients use measuring cups. When measuring wet ingredients, use a liquid measuring cup. Yes, there is a difference and when it comes to baking, which is a science, it does matter 🙂
- Feel free to use a box mix to make the Guinness Brownies. (see above)
Irish Car Bomb Brownies
Guinness Stout Chocolate Brownies, Jameson Ganache and Baileys Buttercream frosting are what these Irish Car Bomb Brownies are made of! Decadently sweet, these brownies will satisfy any sweet tooth, even those who aren’t lucky enough to be Irish!
Ingredients
- Guinness Brownie Layer
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks, divided
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup Guinness
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- Jameson Ganache Layer
- 5 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp salted butter,
- 2 tbsp Jameson whiskey
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Baileys Buttercream Frosting Layer
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Guinness Brownie Layer
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9x9 pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Combine flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, brown sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.
- Place 1/2 cup chocolate into a heat proof bowl and microwave until melted. Whisk in butter, vanilla and Guinness. Add eggs, one at a time and whisk until combined.
- Add in dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chunks.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Place pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Jameson Ganache Layer
- Once the brownies have cooled start by placing your chocolate into a medium size bowl and microwave until melted.
- Whisk in butter, whiskey and powdered sugar.
- Let set for a minute and then spread evenly over brownies. Allow to set up, about 5 minutes.
Baileys Buttercream Frosting Layer
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or into a large bowl, add in your softened butter and whip, scraping down the sides every minute, for 5 minutes.
- Using 1/2 cup at a time, add in your powdered sugar.
- Once all the powdered sugar has been incorporated add in your Baileys and vanilla extract.
- If the frosting is not to your desired consistency and you'd like it thinner, gradually add in a teaspoon of milk until you've reach your desired consistency
- Spread frosting on top of the ganache layer and cut into 12 equal squares.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 12 servingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 463Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 2gSugar: 49gProtein: 4g
Remember Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and you definitely do not need to be Irish to enjoy these Irish Car Bomb Brownies.
For dinner, you could make either:
Sheperd’s Pie Poutine
and these for dessert:
Chocolate Guinness Mini Cakes with Baileys Buttercream
Baileys Mint Chocolate Chip Dip
Irish Soda Bread Scones
Post, photos and recipe updated 3/13/2018. Originally post 3/2/2016
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Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
My husband is a huge fan of the mint + chocolate combo! I might have to make these for him! 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
Thanks Liz! I hope he enjoys them as much as we did!
Renee says
These look pretty darn amazing!! You had me at Bailey’s frosting!!!
Megan Marlowe says
Yes, it’s the best part-IMO!
Debi at Life Currents says
Oh my these look awesome! And what a fun way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day!
Megan Marlowe says
Thank you! Festive + Delicious, that’s how I roll on St. Patrick’s Day! ??
Bella B (xoxoBella) says
These look very yummy. Anything with Bailey’s is good!
Megan Marlowe says
I agree! Thanks for stopping by!
Diana says
I love Bailey’s! These brownies sound really tasty, and the green part made me think it was mint haha 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
Thank you! I needed to add in a little green to make them more festive but I bet they’d be delicious with mint flavoring added! Good idea!
Ramona W says
This recipe looks great! It would make St. Paddy’s day extra yummy! 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
I couldn’t agree more! ?
Laura | Wandercooks says
Oh wow. You’ve just blown my mind with these brownies. Baileys? Guinness? Jameson’s? In one amazingly gorgeous little brownie> Can. Not. WAIT. to try! Quick question: Why are they called ‘Car Bomb’? I’ve never heard of this before. 🙂 🙂
(FYI, love the name Aiden, especially spelled with an e!)
Megan Marlowe says
Aw, thanks so much Laura! I hope you love them! An Irish car bomb “drink” is dropping a shot of Irish cream and Irish whiskey into a Guinness and drinking it as fast as possible so it doesn’t curdle. It’s actually quite delicious and it’s what inspired these brownies using all three components! 😉
Manju | Cooking Curries says
Holy Brownies!!! THose look seriously good!
Megan Marlowe says
Thank you, Manju!
Diane says
These are adorable! Pinning!
Megan Marlowe says
Not too adorable to eat! ?
Diane says
Right you are! After reviewing the recipe again I might just make these for St. Patricks Day this week! That frosting sounds too good to pass up. We already have a version of guinness chocolate cupcakes so I know what you mean about the depth of flavor the guinness adds. Scrumptious!
Karen says
Definitely a triple threat! These look incredible! Love that you picked out your son’s name in high school =)
Megan Marlowe says
Thank you, Karen!
Tina Marie says
These sound so delicious! My husband is all in and wants these made.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
So good! These would be dangerous to have around, I’m pretty sure I could destroy the whole pan 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
Absolutely! I would have but like most desserts in this house, I send them to hubby’s work just so I don’t have the chance!
Jessica Robinson says
We love everything chocolate and mint. Combine the two and you’ve made heaven!
Kaitie says
What a fantastic recipe! I love all of these layers, and combined – a total treat! We shouldn’t just save this for St Patty’s Day! Your pictures look amazing!
Alyssa says
The trifecta of Irish drinking! As dessert. Love it.
Also, your original photography wasn’t horrible. We’re always our own self-critic.
Traci says
Whoah! This recipe looks over the top amazing! Can’t say I’ve ever had this for St Pats…but I sure wish I had some in front of me right now…YUMMM! Pinning now!
Beth says
I love the name of these brownies! Haha! I also love red hair! Although I know it is difficult as a child, everyone I know loves their red hair as an adult! My niece died her hair blonde once and got so much grief, she’s back to red! I have to these delights a try! I’m a humongous brownie fan!
Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen says
Hi Lynne, I do apologize if this has offended you, that was never my intention or to offend anyone else. The name is due to the American version of the cocktail shot which features Guinness, Jameson and Baileys, which is also in the brownies. Also, there are over 13 million recipes on Google with this search term so while mine is in bad taste, so are 13 million other people.
Mandy says
I’m about to make your brownies 🍀🍺🇨🇮 Reading through the recipe – are you aware you left out when & how to add dry ingredients in brownie layer? Even in your commentary, you leave this out. ☹️ Please correct recipe. Thanks
Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen says
Hi Mandy! Apologies about that, it’s been updated!