Bailey’s Irish Cream Walnut Brownies

Chocolate chunks, walnuts and Bailey’s Irish Cream.

This recipe is like a combination of the things I can’t stop sneaking out of the cubboard.  Except then I went and added Bailey’s to the mix.  Please.  I was talking about sneaking chocolate and walnuts.  I may have a Pinterest problem and a job problem, but I don’t have a drinking problem.

Yet.

On Friday we had quite the snowstorm.  My car wasn’t going anywhere.  Joey, two maintenance men and spinning tires told me so.  I had a cancelled interview and the satellite on the TV was out, so I threw my hands up and went to the kitchen.

That’s where this delicious brownie Frankenstein was created.

Bailey’s Irish Cream Walnut Brownies

Inspired by Cooking Light.

• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 T brown sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup chocolate chunks, divided
• 1/4 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 2 T milk (I used 2%)
• 4 T butter, melted
• 1 t vanilla
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. In a bowl, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chunks and Bailey’s in the microwave, stirring after 30 seconds.  Add melted butter, vanilla and eggs.
4. Add milk mixture, remaining chocolate chunks and 1/4 cup nuts to the flour mixture and stir to combine.  Batter will be thick.
5. Pour batter into a coated 9-inch pan, sprinkle with remaining walnuts and cook for 25-35 minutes.  **Mine took longer, but I’m at a high altitude.
6. Cool, slice, enjoy!

These came out better than I could ever have expected.  To be honest, I’m not a real huge brownie fan, but the flavor of the Irish cream tones down the chocolate a bit, leaving it perfect for both brownie lovers and ambivalent brownie-eaters alike.

And in case you aren’t quite convinced that these need to be in your life, I’ll tell you that I just set one aside to eat once my tea was ready seeping, then ate two while I waited, then devoured the third one like someone had been dangling it in front of my face for hours.

Whether that’s an indication that I have zero self control or that these are extra delicious is still up in the air.