These fudgy Kahlua Brownies are topped with a browned butter Kahlua icing!  You’ll find a helpful video in the post showing you how to make these delicious Kahlua Brownies.

Kahlua Brownies with a bottle of Kahlua

Kahlua Brownies

These Kahlua Brownies have Kahlua (can sub any coffee-flavored liqueur) throughout. It’s baked into the brownie itself. I also brush a couple of tablespoons of Kahlua on the brownies as they come out of the oven… and watch it soak into the top and down through the warm layers. Even the browned butter icing has a bit of Kahlua in it.

🛒Ingredients needed:

  • flour
  • salt
  • baking powder
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • unsalted butter
  • light brown sugar
  • Kahlua
  • eggs
  • whipping cream
  • powdered sugar

stack of Kahlua Brownies with Browned Butter Kahlua Icing

✏️How to make Kahlua Brownies:

*The complete, printable recipe with all ingredients and instructions is at the end of this post.

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9×9-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

PREPARE THE BROWNIES:

  1. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, salt and baking powder; set aside.
  2. Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (pan shouldn’t be touching the water). Place the chocolate chips and butter in the bowl and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.
  3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, ½ cup Kahlua and eggs. Pour in the buttery chocolate mixture and beat until mixed well. Mix in the dry ingredients and beat just until combined.
  4. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top cracks slightly and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (it might be slightly gooey on the bottom of the toothpick- that’s okay!) Remove the brownies from the oven and immediately brush warm brownies with 2 tablespoons of Kahlua. Let the brownies cool completely. I like to refrigerate them after they have cooled down a bit.

PREPARE THE ICING:

  1. Place the butter in a saucepan and heat until lightly browned. Remove from heat and add Kahlua and whipping cream. Whisk in the powdered sugar until you have the consistency that you desire (you should be looking for a thick, smooth icing that is still pourable). Pour on top of the cooled brownies and spread to the edges to cover completely. Refrigerate until set. Chilled brownies are easiest to cut… use a large, sharp knife, wipe clean after each cut, and you’ll get nice, clean cuts.

Fudgy Kahlua Brownies with Browned Butter Kahlua Icing

➡️Recipe Tips:

  • If you’re not a fan of Kahlua, try substituting your own favorite liqueur into this recipe.
  • Some people ask why I line brownie pans with foil. The answer is simple. It makes them so much easier to remove from the pan without ruining any of the edges.
  • Keep a close eye on the butter as you brown it for the icing. You don’t want to go too far. Burnt butter icing is NOT the goal!

✔️What to do with Kahlua Brownies:

  • Make these for a grown-up gathering. Everyone loves brownies and your guests will be impressed with the Kahlua “kick” added to these.
  • If you’re really ambitious, think ahead and make some Homemade Kahlua for these brownies.
  • Should you be lucky enough to have leftovers, store the brownies in covered container and pop in the refrigerator. They’re best if eaten within a couple of days.

Kahlua Brownies

❤️Why I love this recipe:

  1. These are a FUDGY sort of brownie and in my opinion that’s the best kind of brownie!
  2. I love that they’re an EASY homemade brownie to make. Just mix and bake, and ice when cool. It’s a small time investment for such a wonderful outcome.
  3. I have to admit it. I find Kahlua Brownies are addicting (in the best possible way), so consider yourself warned!

Other Kahlua recipes to try:

4.39 from 26 votes

Kahlua Brownies

These are the best fudgy brownies with your favorite liqueur added in!
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 16 brownies
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Ingredients

BROWNIES:

ICING:

  • ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
  • 2 tablespoons Kahlua
  • 1 tablespoon whipping cream
  • cups (more or less) powdered sugar (sifted after measuring)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 9x9-inch pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

PREPARE THE BROWNIES:

  • In a medium bowl, sift the flour, salt and baking powder; set aside.
  • Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (pan shouldn't be touching the water). Place the chocolate chips and butter in the bowl and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.
  • In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the sugar, ½ cup Kahlua and eggs. Pour in the buttery chocolate mixture and beat until mixed well. Mix in the dry ingredients and beat just until combined.
  • Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top cracks slightly and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (it might be slightly gooey on the bottom of the toothpick- that's okay!) Remove the brownies from the oven and immediately brush warm brownies with 2 tablespoons of Kahlua. Let the brownies cool completely. I like to refrigerate them after they have cooled down a bit.

PREPARE THE ICING:

  • Place the butter in a saucepan and heat until lightly browned. Remove from heat and add Kahlua and whipping cream. Whisk in the powdered sugar until you have the consistency that you desire (you should be looking for a thick, smooth icing that is still pourable). Pour on top of the cooled brownies and spread to the edges to cover completely. Refrigerate until set. Chilled brownies are easiest to cut... use a large, sharp knife, wipe clean after each cut, and you'll get nice, clean cuts.

Notes

  • Store brownies in covered container. They're best if eaten within a couple of days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie, Calories: 523kcal, Carbohydrates: 69g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 191mg, Potassium: 200mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 50g, Vitamin A: 500IU, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 2.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.39 from 26 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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120 Comments

  1. Athena says:

    Great brownies just made them and they are amazing. I will agree with a couple others I only needed about half of the powdered sugar and I still had to add more Kahlua to compensate as it was very dry and wouldn’t pour. But amazing just the same.. had to look up powdered sugar as I’m in Australia and the equivalent is icing sugar here.

    Thanks again for the recioe it really is amazing!!

  2. Diana says:

    These were amazing. The browned butter is just the perfect touch. Thanks for the great recipie. 

  3. Cherrie says:

    The brownies was superb and my family and friends loved it! It was absolutely delicious! Previously I have tried to search for the prefect recipe for kahlua brownies but most of them were either light or cakey (i prefer fudgy ) Thank you for the fantastic recipe 😀 

    1. Lori Lange says:

      glad to hear!

  4. Wayne says:

    Storage…really think they will last that long?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      *Store brownies in covered container. They’re best if eaten within a couple of days.

  5. Stacey says:

    Absolutely wonderful!! Perfection!
    Did have to had more whipping cream to the icing so it would be pourable but the icing doesn’t even need a brownie.

  6. Billie says:

    My husband made these today – they are decadent…..we had to add more butter and whipping cream to the icing, otherwise it would have been too dry. Absolutely delicious! 

  7. Lisa says:

    Hey there! I am going to make these, and I was just wondering what kind of butter is best. With salt or without? I know most baking calls for without, but just checking! They look great! I can’t wait to make them! 

    1. Lori Lange says:

      either is fine. I usually use salted unless the recipe itself calls for a good amount of salt.

  8. Janet says:

    Going to try making these for dessert tonight at my parents’ place. My mom makes a amazingly killer Kalua cake…thought we try to mix it up with these. If they’re a hit, well make more tomorrow for the Super Bowl!!

  9. Joseph Sciascia says:

    these sound awesome!

  10. Karen says:

    These were absolutely the best brownies I have ever tasted….let alone made!
    Thanks for sharing.