Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Barely Cinco - Mexican Brownies


It's still Cinco de Mayo - barely. There is a 'Seis de Mayo' potluck at work tomorrow - and I have signed up for a dessert. My dessert of choice: Mexican Brownies adapted from the Bon Appetit Cookbook. I doubled the recipe - but am sharing the 'single pan' version.

Mexican Brownies

Brownies
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
* melt chocolate and butter in double boiler until smooth
1 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 TBSP cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
* Whisk in sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt (will be 'grainy')
3 large eggs
* Whisk in eggs 1 at a time (batter should be smooth by the last egg)
1 tsp vanilla
* Whisk in vanilla
3/4 cup AP flour
* Fold in flour
1 cup (6 oz) chopped tasty chocolate (used spiced Choxie)
* Fold in chocolate
Bake at 325 for 35 minutes.

Brown Sugar Topping
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 TBSP unsalted butter
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sliced almonds
*Once brownies are done (and while they are cooling a bit)- Cook topping (sugar, cream and butter) over low heat until boiling. Take off heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool for 10 minutes. Pour over cooled brownies and sprinkle with almonds. Allow to set for at least 1 hour. Cut into squares. Store in the fridge up to 1 day.
*note: next time I will look for a caramel topping. When reading through the ingredients - i made some incorrect assumptions. This is really just a 'BROWN SUGAR' topping. Still kind-of grainy. Not bad - but caramel would be so much better!

12 comments:

Donna-FFW said...

OMG!! These look so delicious and they sound wonderful. I bet they are terrific with the cayenne!

Pearl said...

ooh! do they taste like mexican hot chocolate in a cake form?

Justin said...

now I'm wishing I celebrated yesterday and baked up some of these

Cathy said...

I think Brownies with cayenne or chili powder are better than plain. Yours looks delicious!

What's Cookin Chicago said...

Chocolate with a bit of chile is one of my faves... this looks great!

Unknown said...

Caramel on top of these scrumptious brownies just makes it all better and better :) Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

Yum yum... your blog makes me hungry!

Claudia said...

I love the spices in these - I bet they are delicious. I am trying not to bake for one month. (Read: trying not to eat baked goods for one month). Oy vey! When you go blogging and see brownies such as these, how can you not?

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Wow i can feel my hips expanding just looking at these brownies. These are wonderful!

Angela said...

I love the design on the top of your blog.

I just love all things retro.

Tangled Noodle said...

I would say that cayenne is a must for this! The bite of heat is soooo good with chocolate. I want some of this!

Cakebrain said...

Any excuse for a brownie in my opinion is a good excuse! Looks chocolatey yummy!