Ridiculously Drunken Vegan Brownies

*Prep time: 15-20 mins  *Cook Time:  40 minutes  *Serves:  12-16 brownies, depending on cut 

Ridiculously Drunken Vegan Brownies

This is another one of my altered and made vegan  versions of a Southern Living recipe. 

I whipped these up for Patch after a long day and they are now a permanent installment in my personal recipe book.

 If you're looking for a healthy dessert option- this isn't it. 

Ingredients

6 squares (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate baking squares

1/2 plus 2 tbsp Earth Balance butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup dark brown sugar (firmly packed)

3 Chia Seed Egg Replacer (using ground chia seed meal)

(you can also use enerG egg replacer if you have it)

1/4 cup soy or almond milk

1 tsp lemon juice

4 tsp instant espresso powder

2 tbsp plus 2 tsp coffee patron, divided

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

2 tbsp silk soy creamer

2 tbsp vodka

2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

Ghirardelli chocolate chips, for garnish

Sea Salt, for garnish

Step 1: Toast pecans in a small pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until their skins become shiny. Set aside.

Step 2: Melt 4 chocolate squares along with your 1/2 cup butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally until blended. Transfer this into a large bowl. 

Step 3: Add sugars, blend well. Then add eggs, 2 tsp espresso powder, 2 tsp vanilla and 2 tsp coffee patron. Mix it all up. 

Step 4: Take your 1/4 cup milk and mix it with 1 tsp lemon juice. Let it sit about 10 mins- you will see it start to curdle. You want that. Mix in. 

Step 5: Gradually add your flour and salt, stirring until well blended- then mix in your pecans. 

Step 6: Pour your batter into a well-greased pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 f for 35-40 mins. ** that was 35-40 mins in my crappy oven. So keep an eye on your brownies after about 30** Once they are done a toothpick should come out of them cleanly. Once done let your brownies cool completely. 

Step 7: Now for the fudge-y topping.  Melt your remaining 2 chocolate squares along with 2 tbsp butter as before.  Transfer to a medium sized bowl. Stir in the remaining 2 tsp espresso powder, soy creamer, vodka and 2 tbsp coffee patron. 

Step 8: Add your powdered sugar and mix very well with an electric mixer. Then spread it over your brownies. Top it with 1 tbsp chocolate chips and 1/2 - 1 tbsp (depending on your taste) sea salt. I used about 1 tbsp- but I have a salt and chocolate problem...

Step 9: Let your frosting set overnight. This gives the frosting time to blend with the brownies and moisten them up. 

If these brownies make you sick from the butter, sugar and liquor know this: 

it's worth it. 

When my husband and I got married we got a Southern Living Cookbook as a gift. As a vegan my first thought was- what am I supposed to do with this? 

My answer: 

Make it vegan.