Fudgy S’more Brownies with Toasted Marshmallow Meringue

For the brownies:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Fold a long piece of heavy foil into a 13″ wide strip and fit it inside a 9″x13″ metal baking pan, leaving foil overhang on the 2 long sides. Spray the foil with nonstick spray.

Stir the butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, and then the eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Then sift the flour over the chocolate mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake brownies until slightly puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.

Run a knife around the inside edge of the brownie pan. Use the overhanging foil as an aid and gently lift the brownies from the pan. The pan I used produces a brownie that is 1/2″ thick. Be sure your cookie cutter is taller than 1/2″. Press a round biscuit cutter (mine was 2-1/4” in diameter) firmly into the cooled brownie. Use a thin metal spatula to lift the cookie cutter filled with brownie from the foil. Gently press the brownie out of the biscuit cutter. Repeat the cutting process until your brownie looks like a big piece of swiss cheese.

For the chocolate glaze:
Place all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Cool for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the glaze is thickened, but still pourable. Stir until completely smooth, then drop a large teaspoonful onto the center of a brownie round, and spread it out to the edges. Repeat until all brownie rounds are glazed. Let set while preparing the marshmallow meringue.

For the marshmallow meringue:
In a medium heat-proof bowl (if you have a stand mixer, use that bowl), combine the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar. Place bowl over a pan of simmering water (or use a double boiler), making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Whisk ingredients until sugar is dissolved and egg whites are warmed to 145°F. This should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and place on stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, start beating on low until the mixture thickens just a bit. Then turn speed up to high until stiff, glossy peaks form. This should take about 10 minutes. Spoon meringue into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (I used Ateco #808) and swirl onto the glazed brownie rounds. Use a kitchen torch to gently toast the meringue. Finish by inserting a broken piece of graham cracker into the meringue.

These keep very well refrigerated for a day or two.

Source: Marshmallow meringue portion adapted from The Italian Dish.