All About Balance

• Adding Irish cream to your brownies not only brings to the batter or frosting its own flavor, it also enhances the flavor of the other ingredients by increasing their volatility and causing them to release stronger aromas and flavors. This is the same principle behind pairing wines with chocolate for tastings. As such, it is important to err on the side of too little Irish cream, rather than flooding the batter or frosting with the liqueur. Too much alcohol will not only overpower the other flavors, it will also add significant moisture, and the extra sugar in the Irish cream will make the batter too sweet.

Spike the Batter

• Add Irish cream to your batter for a subtle boost of boozy flavor. While some of the alcohol in the liqueur will burn off during cooking, anywhere from 5 to 75 percent of the alcohol will remain. Adding too much Irish cream can create a bitter taste and overwhelm the chocolate flavor, so it's best to begin by mixing in 1 to 2 tablespoons of the liqueur and adjusting to taste. If you intend to add more than 2 tablespoons of Irish cream to the batter, consider reducing the sugar called for in the recipe by an equivalent amount and adding an extra tablespoon of flour.

Add an Irish Cream Frosting

• For a stronger dose of Irish cream flavor, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the liqueur to your favorite frosting and spread over the finished brownies. The frosting can be used either on traditional brownies or ones that are also made with Irish cream. A simple buttercream with a dash of Irish cream adds a nice contrast to the chocolate of the brownies. Alternatively, stir the liqueur into a bittersweet chocolate frosting for a nice balance to the sugar. Because the frosting will not be baked, none of the alcohol will burn off. Add the Irish cream in small doses, tasting in between each addition, to avoid overwhelming the frosting.

Craft a Brownie Cocktail

• For a cocktail-inspired take on Irish cream brownies, add another spirit to the mix. Halve the amount of Irish cream you would typically use and replace it with one or two other flavors. Hazelnut or almond liqueurs work well, especially when you add chopped nuts to the brownie batter along with the alcohol. Irish whiskey will deepen the flavor of the Irish cream without adding more sugar to the batter. Peppermint liqueur also works well with both Irish cream and chocolate. Further enhance the flavor by adding mint chips to the brownie batter or mint extract to a frosting. For a brownie with a touch of fruit flavor, add raspberry liqueur alongside the Irish cream.