What Can I Use Instead of Coffee For Flourless Chocolate Brownies?

Our answer

Nigella's Flourless Chocolate Brownies With Hot Chocolate Sauce (from NIGELLA EXPRESS) are excellent as a gluten-free dessert as there is a rich chocolate sauce that is spooned over the warm brownies. It is the sauce that contains 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder.

The espresso powder can be easily omitted and we suggest that it is replaced with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. The extract should be added to the broken up chocolate, along with the remaining ingredients. There is no need to mix it with the 2 tablespoons of hot water first. The sauce can be made up to one week ahead, stored in the fridge and reheated gently before use. To reheat the sauce, put it in a heatproof bowl and sit it over (but not in) a saucepan of hot water, stirring frequently, until the sauce has liquefied and warmed through.