Indulge in the Ultimate Earl Grey Brownie Pudding: A Decadent Chocolate & Tea Delight
This Earl Grey Brownie Pudding is supremely rich, ultra chocolate-y, and decadent beyond belief. The addition of Earl Grey tea to the batter adds a subtle hint of spice, elevating a classic to an extraordinary experience.
Imagine a world where you thought you knew chocolate desserts. You’ve had brownies, sure – dense, fudgy, sometimes cakey. But what if I told you there’s a form of brownie so profoundly rich, so intensely chocolatey, and so utterly decadent that it redefines your understanding of dessert perfection? For a long time, I lived with the delightful but limited perception that brownies had reached their peak. Oh, how wonderfully wrong I’ve been!
How could that dense, gooey hunk of chocolate possibly get any better? It turns out, they can get better – so, very much better. The secret lies in a revelation known as brownie pudding, a dessert concept that takes everything you love about brownies and amplifies it to an entirely new level of indulgence.
What is Brownie Pudding? An Unforgettable Experience
If you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing brownie pudding (I admit, I was a newcomer myself until recently), I’m here to tell you it’s worth running a 10K without any training. If there’s brownie pudding at the finish line, you can guarantee I’m going to cross it. Sure, I’ll be doing it on my hands and knees, but I’ll get there!
This isn’t just a brownie; it’s an experience. Picture a dessert that captures the best qualities of a classic brownie – its deep, dark chocolate flavor and irresistible chewiness – but elevates them to an entirely new realm. Brownie pudding presents itself with a beautifully caramelized, almost crackly crust on top, which gives way to an impossibly molten, ultra-gooey center. It’s like eating the most divine, warm brownie batter, but with the added texture of a firm, delicate crust that you satisfyingly break with your spoon. This isn’t just dessert; it’s a moment of pure culinary bliss, a textural symphony that dances between crisp and liquid chocolate.
The Magic of Melted Butter: A Foundation of Richness
It certainly doesn’t hurt that this pudding is made with two sticks of melted butter. I’m a firm believer that butter will transform any dessert into a dreamy masterpiece that will have everyone swooning, cooing, and oohing and ahhing. The secret to this pudding’s unparalleled richness lies in its generous use of high-quality butter. Two whole sticks of melted unsalted butter are incorporated into the batter, acting as the foundation for its luxurious texture and deep flavor. Butter doesn’t just add moisture; it’s the emulsifier that creates that velvety smooth, melt-in-your-mouth quality, ensuring every spoonful is an opulent experience. It’s what transforms a simple mixture of cocoa and sugar into a dreamy masterpiece, eliciting sighs of pleasure with every bite. It’s also the reason I had to find a new home for this pan of pudding after the initial taste test; if I hadn’t, I would have devoured the entire pan myself!
Earl Grey’s Elegant Infusion: A Sophisticated Twist
The true artistry of this brownie pudding comes from the subtle, yet distinct, inclusion of Earl Grey tea. While many might pair chocolate with coffee or nuts, the addition of Earl Grey introduces an unexpected layer of sophistication. The tea, ideally ground to a fine powder (see notes below for how), infuses the rich chocolate batter with its signature smoky bergamot aroma and a bright, citrusy orange note. This isn’t an overpowering flavor; rather, it’s a delicate whisper in the background, enhancing the chocolate’s depth and adding a sophisticated, almost floral, dimension that elevates the entire dessert. One tablespoon of tea goes a long way, adding a beautiful depth that is subtle, but incredibly pleasing. It’s the kind of sophisticated spice that makes people pause, wonder, and then reach for another spoonful, trying to pinpoint that intriguing, delicious difference.
Pistachios: The Perfect Garnish and Crunch
As if the brownie pudding weren’t decadent enough, a generous sprinkling of toasted Diamond Pistachios provides the perfect finishing touch, making this pudding truly irresistible. We firmly believe pistachios are the reigning champions of the nut world, and for good reason. Their vibrant green hue adds a pop of color, while their distinctive buttery, slightly earthy flavor complements the deep chocolate and subtle tea notes beautifully. More importantly, they introduce a crucial textural contrast, offering a satisfying crunch against the pudding’s soft, gooey interior. The glorious thing about Diamond Pistachios is that they’re packed all ready shelled. There’s no need to spend several precious minutes straining to get them out of the shell, and certainly no bruised thumbs – it’s a glorious thing! Just open the bag and pour, then toast for a few minutes to enhance their flavor and crunch.
Elevate Your Experience: Serving Suggestions
Just when you thought this pudding couldn’t get any better, I’m here to tell you you’re delightfully wrong. While this Earl Grey Brownie Pudding is magnificent on its own, it truly reaches peak perfection when served warm with a few scoops of cold vanilla bean ice cream. The exquisite dance between the warm, deeply chocolatey pudding and the melting, creamy ice cream is a sensation that will undoubtedly change your life. The hot-cold contrast, combined with the varying textures, creates an unforgettable dessert experience that is mind-blowing. Don’t stop there! Consider a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a drizzle of raspberry sauce for a touch of tartness, or even a sprinkle of sea salt to further enhance the chocolate’s depth. Each addition offers a new dimension, turning an already sublime dessert into an extraordinary culinary event.
Earl Grey Brownie Pudding
This Earl Grey Brownie Pudding is supremely rich, ultra chocolate-y, and decadent beyond belief. The addition of Earl Grey tea to the batter adds a subtle hint of spice, creating a unique and sophisticated dessert.
Yield: 1 (12-inch) baking dish
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 4 large eggs, at room-temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Earl Grey tea, finely ground (see note below)
- 1 cup toasted Diamond Pistachios, chopped
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs and sugar. Beat on medium-high speed for 5 minutes. The mixture should become pale yellow, thick, and voluminous.
- In a separate bowl, sift the cocoa powder and all-purpose flour together. Whisk in the finely ground Earl Grey tea and set aside.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly drizzle in the melted and cooled butter, followed by the vanilla extract. Mix until just combined.
- With the mixer still on low speed, gradually add the dry cocoa mixture to the wet ingredients. Continue to mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
- Pour the brownie mixture into your prepared baking dish. Place the dish in a larger baking dish or roasting pan. Carefully add enough hot tap water to the larger pan to come halfway up the sides of the dish containing the brownie pudding. This water bath (bain-marie) helps the pudding bake evenly and keeps it incredibly moist.
- Bake for 1 hour. When removed from the oven, the center will appear very underdone and wobbly – this is exactly what you want! The pudding will continue to set as it cools, developing its signature gooey texture.
- Allow the pudding to cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. Top the warm pudding with the toasted and chopped pistachios and, if desired, a generous scoop (or two!) of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate warm-and-cold dessert experience.
Notes:
- One tablespoon of Earl Grey tea is approximately equivalent to the contents of 4 standard tea bags. If you’re using whole leaf tea, place the tea leaves in a coffee grinder or a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder for optimal flavor distribution in the batter.
Disclosure: This recipe was developed for the lovely folks at Diamond Nuts. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting my recipes and site while I work with brands I adore.