Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies
Updated December 9, 2025
Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
- Total Time
- About 1 ½ hours
- Prep Time
- 15 minutes
- Cook Time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
1 cup/225 grams unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 ounces/225 grams unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups/400 grams sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup/125 grams all-purpose flour
½ cup/85 grams bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)
FOR THE TOPPING
⅔ cup/170 grams cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1 ½ teaspoons ground espresso or dark roast coffee beans
Flaky sea salt
Nutritional analysis per serving
42 grams carbs; 89 milligrams cholesterol; 413 calories; 8 grams monosaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 26 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 221 milligrams sodium; 6 grams protein; 31 grams sugar
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of overhang on two sides to use as handles later.
- Step 2
In a large heavy saucepan set over medium-low heat, combine the butter, chopped chocolate, instant espresso powder and salt. Let butter and chocolate melt, stirring occasionally. (Alternatively, using the microwave, melt the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl, in 30-second increments, until smooth, stirring between increments.)
- Step 3
Whisk in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth, then whisk in eggs and vanilla. Finally, whisk in flour until no streaks remain. Using a spatula, fold in the chocolate chips, if using.
- Step 4
Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Step 5
To prepare the topping, using a whisk, beat together cream cheese and condensed milk in a small bowl until very smooth. Use a spatula to mix in ground espresso beans until just combined. (Don’t overmix: You want to see speckles.) Dollop on top of brownie batter in the pan and swirl with a knife or spatula, pulling up some of the brownie batter from beneath the topping for a marble effect. (For best results, both topping and brownie batter should be about the same temperature.) Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.
- Step 6
Bake until the top is set, the center is soft and the edges start pulling away from the pan, 30 to 40 minutes. (Ceramic and glass pans will take about 5 minutes longer.) The top should look dry and firm when done, but a toothpick inserted into the center should come out slightly gooey.
- Step 7
Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. To get the neatest pieces, chill the brownies for 1 hour, then invert the whole slab of brownie onto a cutting board, peel off the parchment, and slice them, still upside down, into bars.
Private Notes
Comments
Why has nobody made these? It's afternoon, people. The apron flag is flown.
You can freeze unused sweetened condensed milk for a few months in an air tight container.
Cookie week! Not cake. Not donut. Not brownie. Get outta here. I’ll make this next week though.
Is unsweetened chocolate 100/ cocoa chocolate or can lower percentages be used?
These are insane! Make them immediately and you will have more friends!
It's wonderful! Somehow, it's even better frozen than it is fresh out of the oven.