Guinness Syrup Food

GUINNESS GRANITA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 22 ounces of Guinness (2 bottles) with 1/2 cup vanilla syrup (such as Torani). Pour into a 9-inch square baking dish and freeze until ice crystals form around the edges, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Use a fork to scrape the ice crystals, then continue freezing, scraping every 45 minutes, until the granita is frozen, 3 to 4 more hours. Serve in chilled beer mugs and top with whipped cream.

GUINNESS BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Slowly pour the Guinness into a medium saucepan, trying to make as little foam as possible. (Hold the pot at an angle and press the lip of the bottle to the side of the pot and slowly pour. This should help eliminate foam.) Bring the beer to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 13 minutes (you may need to pour the beer into a liquid measuring cup a few times to make sure it is reduced enough). Add the butter and whisk constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk constantly until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Add the flour mixture and stir slowly until combined, taking care that none of the flour spills out of the pot. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
• Bake until set on top, the brownies have slightly pulled away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top.
• Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to remove the brownies from the pan to a cutting board and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle the confectioners' sugar on top of the brownies and slice into 16 squares.

CHOCOLATE GUINNESS PUDDING

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1 cup sugar.
• Open can of Guinness and SLOWLY pour into 4-cup measuring cup, pouring down side of cup to reduce foaming. Pour half of Guinness (about 7/8 cup) into heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan. Add 2 1/4 cups cream and whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles just begin to form at edges. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
• SLOWLY pour hot chocolate mixture into eggs, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Return mixture to saucepan and set over moderately low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon(should not run off spoon), at least 15 minutes. (Pudding will look separated.) Pour into blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Divide pudding among glasses, leaving at least 1 inch of space at top of each. Cover with plastic wrap(push the wrap right against top of pudding to keep "skin" from forming) and refrigerate until chilled and set.
• Meanwhile, pour remaining Guinness into small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 1 tablespoon, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup into small bowl and let cool.
• Beat remaining cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Add Guinness syrup and fold in until combined. Divide cream among 6 glasses of pudding and serve.
• ~The higher the cacoa content of the chocolate, the more you'll taste it, rather than the Guinness.
• ~Do NOT substitute half and half for heavy whipping cream--pudding and topping won't set up correctly.
• ~ You can omit the sugar from the whipped topping, but it will be slightly bitter. The pudding is so rich, some people think the slightly bitter topping compliments it well, but you can decide based on your own tastes. Some folks like just plain whipped cream--no sweetener, no flavoring.
• ~ because the pudding is so rich, you can use smaller glasses and divide it into 8-10 servings.

RICH GUINNESS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter 8-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment or wax paper. Butter paper.
• Bring stout and butter to a simmer in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa; whisk until smooth. Cool slightly.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large bowl to blend; set aside.
• Beat egg, yolk and sour cream with electric mixer in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture, and beat just to combine.
• Add flour mixture and beat 30 seconds on slowest speed. Fold batter using rubber spatula until completely combined; pour into prepared pan.
• Bake about 50 to 55 minutes, or until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Transfer to rack; cool.
• Once it is cool, prepare syrup (can use my recipe of Guinness syrup). Cut a piece of the cake, put in a glass, add some ice cream and drizzle the warm syrup on top. Enjoy!