Spent Grain Blondies & Brownies: Fudgy, Malty, and Baked With Brewhouse Soul

Spent Grain Blondies & Brownies are rich, dense, and beer-kitchen born — chewy bar-style treats with toasted malt depth and a subtle nutty texture from your leftover mash.

Whether you’re team chocolate or butterscotch, these bars deliver big flavor, clean slices, and zero-waste baking satisfaction in every bite.

Spent Grain Blondies (Makes one 8×8 pan — ~16 squares)

Dry Mix

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup spent grain (wet, well-drained, finely chopped)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

Wet Mix

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 1–2 tbsp beer (amber ale or cream ale for warm malt lift)

Mix-ins (choose 1–2 cups total)

• White or dark chocolate chips
• Toasted nuts
• Butterscotch chips
• Coconut or dried fruit

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 pan with parchment.
2. Mix wet ingredients together, then stir in spent grain.
3. Fold in dry ingredients until just combined. Stir in mix-ins.
4. Spread into pan. Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden on top and set in the middle.
5. Cool before slicing.

Flavor Riffs

• Maple pecan + blonde ale
• Coconut-lime + wheat beer
• Chai spice + cream ale

Best With

• Blonde ale, cream ale, amber, or brown ale
• Vanilla porter or beer float on the side

Spent Grain Brownies (Makes one 8×8 pan — ~16 squares)

Dry Mix

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup spent grain
• ½ cup cocoa powder (dark or Dutch process)
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Wet Mix

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 2 tbsp stout or porter (for deep richness)

Mix-ins (optional, up to 1 cup)

• Chocolate chunks or chips
• Espresso powder (½ tsp)
• Walnuts or peanuts
• Swirl of peanut butter, cream cheese, or caramel

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 8×8 pan with parchment.
2. Mix wet ingredients and spent grain in a bowl.
3. Whisk dry ingredients separately, then fold into wet.
4. Add mix-ins and pour into pan. Bake 25–30 minutes until the top looks set but center is still slightly soft.
5. Cool fully before slicing for clean edges.

Flavor Riffs

• Double stout + espresso
• Chili dark chocolate + cayenne
• Raspberry jam swirl + milk chocolate

Best With

• Stout, porter, dark lager, or nitro cream ale
• Serve warm with beer ice cream or bourbon drizzle

Storage & Serving

• Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3–4 days
• Freeze tightly wrapped for up to 3 months
• Best served room temp or lightly warmed
• Great as a base for beer floats, sundaes, or layered trifles

Beer Pairing

In the Batter

• For blondies: amber ale, cream ale, or blonde ale
• For brownies: dry stout, coffee porter, or oatmeal brown

In Your Glass

• Blondies → wheat beer, spiced saison, pale ale
• Brownies → milk stout, chocolate bock, or fruited dark ale
• Contrasts → sour for blondies, coffee porter for brownies

Final Thoughts

Spent Grain Blondies & Brownies are the dessert that proves beer grain belongs in the oven. They’re dense, satisfying, and flexible enough to take on whatever flavor you throw at them — from nutty blondie boards to fudge-stacked stout brownies.

Cheers to chewy edges, beer-baked cores, and grain that doesn’t go to waste! 🍫🍺🔥

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