Texas brownies are a cross between chocolate cake and brownies. And they are baked in such a large pan that it seems like they’re the size of Texas. This recipe takes Texas brownies to the next level by adding coffee both to the cake and the frosting.

Coffee is the secret to the rich flavor of these Texas Brownies with Coffee. Coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate. When you use Alex’s Low Acid Coffee, you can get this rich flavor without adding as much acid. That’s good news if you have heartburn when you drink acidic coffee.

These are a few tips for success with your Texas Brownies with Coffee.

• Get all of your ingredients ready before you start. That way, you won’t get caught without a crucial item while you are heating items on the stove.
• You can make the frosting while the Texas Brownies are in the oven so you can frost them as soon as the cake is baked. Or, you can make the frosting in advance and refrigerate it until an hour or two before you are ready to frost the warm Texas brownies.
• You use buttermilk or milk with 2 to 3 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice.
• The stronger you make your brewed coffee, the richer the overall taste of the Texas Brownies and frosting will be.
• Cinnamon is optional, but it adds a nice flavor. 
• You can stir in 1 to 2 cups of chocolate chips to the batter just before pouring it into the pan. 
• It’s okay to add ½ cup to 1 cup of chopped walnuts before pouring the batter into the pan. If you do, add an extra 2 tablespoons of coffee when you add the 1 cup.

Recipe for Texas Brownies Made with Brewed Coffee

Makes 24 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 cups of white sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter
• 1 cup of strong brewed coffee
• ¼ cup of baking cocoa (unsweetened cocoa powder)
• ½ cup of buttermilk or ½ cup of milk plus 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

For frosting:

• ½ cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of strong brewed coffee
• ¼ cup of baking cocoa (unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 11 x 17-inch sheet pan or 2 9-inch square pans.
2. Mix the flour and sugar together in a bowl.
3. Mix the butter, oil, coffee, and cocoa together in a saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly, until boiling.
4. Pour the liquid mixture over the flour and sugar. Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mix everything together well using a high-speed mixer.
5. Pour the batter into the greased pan or pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. While the cake is baking, make the frosting by heating the butter, coffee, and cocoa powder in a saucepan. Stir constantly and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Blend in the powdered sugar and then stir in the vanilla.
7. Frost the cake while it is still warm from the oven. Let cool and then cut into squares to serve or freeze.