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This started off as an experiment, but holy macaroni Batman, I think this is the best dessert I’ve ever made. It’s eyes roll to the back of your head good. It’s I don’t smoke, but I need a cigarette good. You have got to try it!

I might be jeopardizing my cool factor by admitting this, but I just don’t get the Starbucks fascination. I like coffee, but at the cost of $120 a month and 1,500 calories a week it’s not worth it to me.

On top of that, when I walk into Starbucks, I feel like I’ve landed on another planet. I’ve honestly tried to figure out the trendy way to order, but the baristas always look at me funny. I’ve got the sizes figured out, but then there’s the soy, skinny, wet, dry, single, double, etc. The fact that there are websites devoted to explaining how to order legitimizes the fact that this isn’t normal.

But I really do like the flavor of coffee, especially in desserts, so I made my way into a Starbucks today (before the crowd got there) and ordered two drinks. I still didn’t do it right. I asked for a Venti Caramel Macchiato and a Double Espresso. “Do you want a double espresso in your Macchiato,” the lady asked. “No, I want two separate drinks.”

Then, although my sticker said Venti, the lady handed me my drink, and said, “Here’s your Grande Caramel Macchiato.” I didn’t even ask (despite paying an extra buck or so for the Venti). I know Venti is the largest and Grande is like a medium, but I have no idea what the cups look like. When I measured the liquid at home, I confirmed that she did serve me a grande.

Now that I survived the ordering and a reminder that I’m not hip enough to “get it,” I’m ready to move onto what I do know how to do ~ bake.

Since I love coffee-flavored desserts, I decided to bake a couple with Starbucks inspiration. I’m planning a dessert buffet for an awards ceremony, and I figured coffee would add a nice option with the vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and banana flavors already on the menu.

Although this recipe is layered and combined, you can bake the brownies or pudding and serve them on their own. Each is truly delectable…and might I add easy. But if you go all the way and make the pudding into a mousse, you will be blown away. This recipe makes more mousse than you’ll need, but no worries, now I have a lot of mousse leftover, and trust me that is nothing to complain about.

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Double Espresso Brownies with Caramel Macchiato Mousse

Servings: 54 brownies

Ingredients 

  • ½ batch Double Espresso Brownies
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 batch Caramel Macchiato Pudding
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Melted Chocolate

Instructions 

  • brownies in cupcake liners.
  • Using a small biscuit cutter, cut the brownies into circles and place them into mini cupcake liners.
  • Whisk heavy cream, until stiff peaks form.
    bowl of mousse.
  • Fold in the pudding.
    whipped cream on brownies.
  • Place the mousse into a piping bag with a star tip, and pipe the mousse onto the brownies.
  • Place the caramel in a Ziploc bag and cut off the corner. Pipe the caramel across the top of the mousse.
    Espresso Brownie with Mousse
  • Place the melted chocolate in a Ziploc bag and cut off the corner. Pipe the chocolate across the top of the mousse.
  • Chill and serve.

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

Additional Info

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @zestuous
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Double Espresso Brownies

Ingredients 

  • 2 boxes Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownies
  • 1 Starbucks Doppio, double Espresso (2 ozs./ ¼ cup)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 eggs

Instructions 

  • Blend all ingredients together. Pour into a Silpat-lined sheet pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

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

Additional Info

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @zestuous
No ratings yet

Caramel Macchiato Pudding

Ingredients 

  • 1 Starbucks Grande Caramel Macchiato, 2 cups
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • pinch Fleur de Sel, or kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Pour the coffee into a saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat.
  • Just before it boils, add the sugar, cornstarch and salt.
  • Stir until it thickens and starts to coat the back of the spoon.
  • Pour into another bowl. If you need to serve it quickly, chill it in an ice bath. Otherwise, let it cool in the refrigerator.

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

Additional Info

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @zestuous

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Christie Vanover

About Zestuous

Hi. I’m Christie, the head cook and award-winning competitive pitmaster for Team Girls Can Grill. I have won multiple grand championships and have dozens of top ten category finishes. People know me as the girl who is forever hovering over a grill, smoker or campfire with tongs in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.


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4 Comments

  1. I may just have to make these for the first coffee I host for our new unit. How appropriate…coffee themed brownies for a coffee! 🙂

  2. From start to finish this was an EXCELLENT POST!!! not only are your pictures fabulous but you really got it right about SBucks!
    My son is a real sucker for that place. EVERY time we see one he makes me go in and get him a whoopie pie. LIke I can’t make them. LIke I CAN NOT BAKE!
    So BRAVO to you! THis is awesome and the pudding is to die for!
    I will be making this soon for the kid…and ME!!