Chocolate-Chipotle Brownies

I really love these fudgy brownies. Have no fear, they are not spicy. The chipotle and cinnamon give it a fantastic flavor to balance out the sweetness of all this chocolate. I made these for B to take to work and the gift to give to his boss as she liked these best last Christmas.

Noone picked up these brownies and noted they were spicy- in fact most just noticed the cinnamon.

Try these. The printable recipe can be found here.



Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9x13x2 inch baking pan with foil making sure that it extends over the ends of the pan. We'll be using the foil as handles to lift out the brownies later.

Lightly coat the foil with cooking spray.



In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt 1 heaping cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (chopped for faster melting) with 1 cup of butter.

You have to love a recipe that starts with chocolate and butter. You want it completely melted until it's smooth and glossy.



In a small bowl combine 2 cups of flour and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. I suppose you could sift it and make it pretty but I'm too lazy.

I'm not sure why but I cannot use cocoa powder without getting it all over everything.



Now for the most funnest part! This is what separates this brownie from the rest.

In a large bowl combine 2 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder (I just used instant coffee), 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon AND 1 to 2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder.

I know that sounds like a ton. Actually if you were just cooking dinner with it, that would be a ton. Keep in mind all the sugar and chocolate (and other ingredients) going in this to balance out the chipotle. In this batch I used 1 1/2 teaspoons and not a single person said they were spicy. But if you look for it you get a little chipotle at the back of your tongue after you eat it.

I'll use 2 teaspoons next time :)

Give your sugar and spice and little mix. Sugar and Spice.. now this recipe is going to remind me of Jana, which is never a bad thing.



Now pour the melted chocolate into the sugar and spice mixture.



Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute, scraping the bowl occasionally.

I know it looks a bit funky but please lean over that bowl and inhale deeply.

Aaaahhhhh, comforting and exotic.



Pull 6 eggs out of the refrigerator because if you don't you may forget half-way thru how many eggs you just cracked into the batter.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low after each until you can't see the snotty texture sitting on the top anymore. Or until just combined. Same difference.

Beat in 2 teaspoons of vanilla until just combined.



Now grab that flour mixture that has been anxiously waiting for your attention. Add it 1/2 cup at a time, beating on low until just combined. How many times can I say that in a row?

When it's all in go ahead and scrape the sides down and beat on medium for another minute.



The batter should be thick. Pour it into the pan and spread it as evenly as possible.

Lick any utensils that have come in contact with the batter. You'll really taste the spice but it will be a bit less noticeable after baking time.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.



Cool the brownies in the pan on a wire rack.

When they are cool (or close enough) go ahead and use the foil handles we left to lift the brownies out of the pan.

At this point you can sprinkle them with cocoa powder. I don't. The brownies get a nice little crust on top which means that the cocoa doesn't stick and I don't like the taste of plain cocoa on my tongue or up my nostrils. Apparently I always inhale before I bite. Inhaling unsweetened cocoa is not my thing.



Cut it into bars. The recipe says it makes 32 bars but unless I'm serving something like this as a dessert I always cut them into smaller bites.

My theory is that people eat more when they are little. Typically I am baking for get togethers that are more of the grazing variety. Also, I was making it for B's coworkers and I wanted them to be able to snack on these at work whenever they got the chance.

Sometimes when I'm introducing something different it's easier to get people to try them if it' in little portions than if it's big.

I would have gotten 66 squares (a little more than 1 inch) but I didn't even to attempt to cut the first row which B ate immediately. Then he proceeded to eat some of the other corners and some of the edge pieces as well.



Box some of these up and ship them off or you will eat half the pan yourself.

Always a crowd pleaser!

What are your favorite brownie recipes?