Inspired by Saturday’s power outage thanks to Hurricane Earl — and the browning bananas camping out in the cupboard — my mind conjured up a culinary mash-up that I’m fondly referring to as the “blackout brownie”: a moist, chewy, cocoalicious brownie mellowed out with a little kick of the irresistible flavor of banana bread.

blackout brownie tower. a yummy heap of brownie, chocolate buttercream frosting, and dark chocolate espresso glaze.

Swathed in chocolate buttercream frosting and a dark chocolate espresso glaze for a subtle coffee flavor, this brownie is sure to light up your taste buds even when the power goes out. Chocolate, banana, coffee and more chocolate. It’s messy, it’s rich, it’s chocolate, and it’s too easy not to try.

banana-chocolate mash-up... yum.

Blackout Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Brownie Ingredients

butter, canola or coconut oil to grease  baking pan

½ cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 ripe/brown bananas, mashed (½ to ¾ cup)

½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

chocolate buttercream frosting & espresso glaze: oozing chocolate goodness.

Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

3 tbsp butter, softened
3 tbsp cocoa
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup icing sugar
1 to 2 tbsp milk

Chocolate Glaze Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
2 oz dark chocolate
1¼ cup icing sugar
1 egg
1 tsp espresso powder (optional)

Tip

No double boiler? No problem. *Heat some water to a low boil in a small saucepan and cover with a small metal bowl, which acts as your “top” boiler.

Brownie Directions

1. Grease 10×8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with butter, canola or coconut oil.
2. Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl.
3. Add eggs; beat well with spoon; mix in mashed bananas.
4. In separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating well until smooth.
5. Spread batter evenly in greased pan.
6. Bake in preheated oven (350 degrees F) for 20 – 25 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan.
7. Cool completely in pan on wire rack before frosting.

blackout brownie tower. cut-out, stack, frost & glaze.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Directions

1. Beat butter, cocoa, honey and vanilla in a small bowl until blended.
2. Add icing sugar and milk and beat to spreading consistency.

Chocolate Glaze Directions

1. Using a double boiler, makeshift* or otherwise, melt butter and chocolate.
2. Whisk in icing sugar, egg and espresso powder, if using. Beat until smooth.

Putting It All Together

Simple Assembly (Option 1)

1. Spread frosting on completely cooled brownies (in pan).
2. Pour and spread glaze over frosting.
3. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Brownie Sandwich Assembly (Option 2)

1. Cut out cooled brownie into circles using a 2-inch metal cookie cutter.
2. Sandwich 2 brownie circles together with a dollop of frosting, making a brownie tower.
3. Pour a spoonful of glaze over brownie and drizzle over plate. Bon appétit!

this brownie will light up your taste buds, even when the power goes out.

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