OMG mocha brownies

Last night we went to our friends' house for dinner. And their friends had given them some of these little bites of heaven brownies, which we ate for dessert. They were so rich and delicious that I promptly came home and googled the hell out of them, and then made my very own batch today.

I am telling you now...you MUST make these brownies. But do yourself a favor and invite somebody over to eat them with you or you WILL eat the whole pan by yourself and then you will feel oh so very sick.

This recipe is adapted from the Pioneer Woman's Mocha Brownies out of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. The original recipe calls for 4 sticks of butter. I cut it down to a mere 3 sticks. So, you know, these are WAY healthier.

What you'll need for the brownies:
2 sticks (1 cup) of unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla (does anybody actually measure vanilla?)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 1/4 cup flour

 First, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Then add the eggs (one at a time), the vanilla, and the melted chocolate. Mix a little more. Finally add the flour and mix just until combined.

Pour into a buttered 9x13(ish) pan and bake for 40(ish) minutes at 325 degrees. Let cool completely. (Or as long as you can bear to wait).

While your brownies are cooling you'll need to make the mocha frosting. (Please, for the love of God, do not skip the frosting!) I did cut the frosting in HALF, and trust me, there was still plenty of frosting.  I kinda think the entire amount would be gross.

What you'll need for the mocha frosting:
(these are the amounts that I used, which differ from the PW's recipe)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/8 cup cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
a splash of vanilla
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter (softened)
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee (cooled)

Beat the first five ingredients together until well combined. Then add the coffee in slowly. Beat on medium(ish) speed for a minute or two or three until your frosting is all light, fluffy and delicious.

Spread frosting over cooled brownies, and chill (if you can wait any longer than you already have) to make cutting cleaner.

Seriously though, if these aren't the best damn brownies you've ever eaten in your entire life, well, then I'd like to know what brownies you have been eating. For reals. Also, there is an easy peasy little pin-it button down there just especially for you, because you know you want to pin these babies.