Guinness Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 cup Guinness Extra Stout
• 10 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup flour
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions

1. Set your oven to 350 degrees F. Tuck parchment paper or foil into an 8x8 square pan, leaving extra on two sides so you can pull the brownies out after baking. Coat the lining with a little butter or baking spray.
2. Pour the Guinness stout into a medium 2-quart saucepan and bring it to a boil. Keep an eye on it, because the stout can foam up quickly. Continue boiling until the amount in the pan has reduced by half.
3. Add the butter to the reduced Guinness and stir until melted. Whisk in the sugar until it has dissolved, then whisk in the cocoa, salt, and cinnamon. Keep whisking until the mixture is smooth. Take the pan off the heat and cool the mixture until it feels only lightly warm when touched.
4. Once the mixture is only lightly warm, stir in the vanilla extract, then the eggs. Add the flour and stir until smooth, then stir in the nuts.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Slide the pan into the oven, still at 350 degrees F, and bake for 30 minutes. Set the pan on a rack to cool. After the brownies are completely cool, use the lining to lift them from the pan, then cut them into 16 to 25 squares or rectangles.