While I have spent most of my quarantine bored or paralyzed with anxiety, my parents have managed to do the impossible: make it somewhat bearable. Starting each Thursday, they implement happy hour at 5pm sharp that extends throughout the weekend. During these happy hours, they have experimented with a number of different drinks, from Aperol spritzes (from last visit) to Old Fashioneds, which was the inspiration for this post.
The recipe is incredibly simple. You can use your favorite brownie recipe (or a boxed mix, in my case). Add some Valencia orange peel spice to mimic the orange rind and top with cherry pie filling for the maraschino cherry. Last but not least, the bourbon for a warm kick. It's a very adult feeling dessert that brings a very childlike feeling of joy. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
BOURBON OLD FASHIONED BROWNIES
Servings: 9-12 people
Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
1 box of brownie mix
6 oz cherry pie filling
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp coffee (or water)
2 tbsp + 1 tsp bourbon
2 tbsp Valencia orange peel spice (or orange zest)
1 egg
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Combine the brownie mix with everything except for the cherry pie filling. I like to use coffee instead of water for a stronger chocolate flavor, but either works. If you want more of a bourbon taste, you can use 3 tbsp + 1 tsp of bourbon and 2 tbsp of coffee/water.
Mix well together and put in a slightly greased pan. I used a 9x11 for the photos, but usually use something a little smaller to make thicker brownies.
Top the brownies with the cherry pie filling and swirl well with a knife or spoon so that it doesn't just sit on the top of the brownie mix.
Cook for around 30-35 minutes. Let sit for another 5-10 minutes to cool.
Cut into pieces and enjoy!
