Dark Chocolate Bourbon Brownies are fudge brownies taken up a notch, with bourbon bringing its uniquely subtle flavor to the party. With a soft texture and chewy bite, these are boozy fudgy brownies for the win!
Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray a 9- x 9-inch baking pan with baking spray, then line with parchment paper, letting it overhang on two sides. If desired, clip the sides of the parchment paper to the pan with binder clips to keep the paper from falling into the batter as the brownies bake.
If the flour and/or the cocoa powder are lumpy, use a sifter to smooth them out. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
Melt the butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on High in 30 second bursts, about 1½ to 2 minutes. Stir after each interval until the chocolate is melted. Alternatively, combine the chocolate and the butter in a heavy saucepan and melt over Low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove the pan from the stove.
Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the dark brown sugar into the chocolate mixture, breaking up any lumps. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring until they're fully mixed in. Stir in the bourbon and vanilla.
Fold the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture and stir until just combined. Don't over-mix the brownie batter - you don't want to develop the gluten in the flour.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake the brownies for 25 to 28 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.
Just before cutting, chill the brownies in the freezer for 10 minutes. Carefully lift the brownies out of the pan using the parchment paper as a sling. Place the slab on a cutting board.
Cut the brownies into 16 2- x 2-inch squares with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, wiping the blade between cuts as needed. Serve and enjoy!
Storage instructions: Homemade brownies are best the day they're made, and can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. They also freeze well for later snacking if you tightly wrap them and use an airtight bag or container.
Recipe Notes
You can tone down the intensity of the chocolate by using semisweet chocolate instead of dark chocolate and regular cocoa powder instead of the dark chocolate version.The subtle flavor from the whisky or bourbon you choose will peek out under the chocolate, especially peated whisky. You can experiment with different versions of your favorite whisky or bourbon, or try a liqueur like Kahlua, an Irish cream whiskey, or your favorite spirit. Have fun!Be aware - because we're not baking the brownies for a long time, not all the alcohol will bake out. This is an adults-only treat, and is not pregnancy- or kid-friendly. If you want an alcohol-free fudge brownie, you can substitute strong coffee or espresso (which will give the brownies a subtle mocha flavor) for the bourbon, or try one of my other brownie recipes instead.