A Kahlua and Kix Commercial

While the muppets frolicked in the living room, I set about making the famous Kahlua brownies for AuntJ.

Hey – the Whiskey cupcakes turned out well. And these delectables I’d successfully made before. J passed on the recipe after a particularly tough term paper episode back in college. Because nothing makes a girl feel better than alcoholic brownies. Well, not much…

Heard gluten-free products are dry? This is a lie.

These suckers are RICH and delicious. But here’s the rub – J can’t have gluten products anymore. Unacceptable. So I was given on good authority that Gluten Free Pantry made an amazing chocolate truffle brownie mix. (It’s gluten free, in case you missed that Captain Obvious.)

Since this was a large alteration to the recipe, I was definitely taking some chances. No worries – the fire extinguisher securely remains where I left it after the lack of a whiskey cupcake catastrophe. You can just call me the Mix Master as I cobble together my Kahlua brownies. (Also, I like Bailey’s and Cream. Sampling people.)

I checked on the muppets before continuing my pursuits of high temperature desserts involving liquor.

Must. Have. Technology. Shiny Object!

Destroy was scaling the piano bench. I’m pretty sure I heard him playing the theme from Jaws as part of the process. He grabbed my iPhone from atop the player piano. Well that explains the Jaws music…

With the full focus a toddler could muster (especially one distracted by shiny objects), my little Destroy deliberately pushed the Home button. He delighted when the screen lit up. And then his chubby little index finger swiped to unlock the device like he had no questions about what to do.

Tapping on the passcode page, he startled when the phone buzzed with the wrong entry. He handed it to me. “Uh oh!”

He’s not even 2 people!

But back to the brownies.

I Pam’d a 9×13 pan, poured Kahlua into my Gluten Free Pantry mix and cracked some eggs. Do you think it matters that I’m using a 9×13 pan when the box calls for an 8×8? Ultimately, I was convinced not to defy the all-knowing box.

Are they done yet? How 'bout now? Now?

Re-Pam’d an 8×8 and got my bake on. Here’s where I tell you that sometimes the box lies. When the timer beeped after 26 minutes, those brownies weren’t even close to done. Five more minutes – nope. Five more. Now I’m freaking out that I’m going to overcook the things. But a friend reassured me that I could just pour ice cream over over-crisped brownies and we’d be good to go.

Also, the cup of Kahlua I poured into the dry mix may have affected the bake time. IMPROVISE!

(My improvisational techniques further led to an in-depth discussion regarding the characteristics of instant coffee. Turns out, it’s not the same as regular. It was suggested I could have just brewed an actual cup-o-joe, but then Jon found Folgers instant coffee in the freezer. Because where else would it be?)

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Search was squirming around on his stomach, trying to get under the piano. (More proof against wholly nature-vs-nurture here – while Destroy went over the instrument, his brother dove under.) When he emerged he was scratching at his nose.

“Search? Did you bonk your nose?”

Nope. There was a Kix stuck up his nose. Because where else would it be?

Yay.

I’m gonna need more Kahlua. And these brownies are amazing.

Kix corn puffs for the little ones. Kahlua and gooey chocolate for the adults.

Kid tested, Mother approved. Indeed.

(This post was not sponsored by any corporate entities. Sadly.)

Gluten-Free Kahlua Brownie Recipe

Brownies

• 1 box Gluten Free Pantry Chocolate Truffle brownie mix
• 2 eggs
• 7 tbsp butter
• ½ c. Kahlua

• Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8×8 pan.
• Mix above ingredients together.
• Ignore box baking times. Bake for 30-35 min. and then let cool.

Frosting

• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp Kahlua
• 1 tsp instant coffee (not the same as regular coffee grounds)
• 3 tsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ c. butter

• Mix Kahlua with instant coffee.
• Cream butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Add coffee mixture and beat until blended.
• Add milk to make the consistency of frosting.
• Refrigerate for 30 min. make spreading easier.