Ancho Chili-Cinnamon Brownies

Ancho Chili-Cinnamon Brownies
  • Yield:makes 9-16 brownies, depending on big you cut them
  • Active time:10 minutes
  • Total time:40 minutes
  • Rated: 5.0

[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]

These fudgey brownies have a subtle, smokey heat thanks to ancho chile powder. Cinnamon and cayenne round out the warm flavors while the chocolate chips add a double dose of chocolate.

loosely adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Classic Brownies

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions

  1. 1.

    Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 325°F. Grease pan with butter.

  2. 2.

    In a small saucepan over medium heat, add butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost all melted. Add chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until melted. Take off heat and scrape into a large bowl.

  3. 3.

    Whisk sugar and vanilla into bowl. Whisk in eggs one at a time. Add chile powder, cinnamon, cayenne, salt, and espresso powder and whisk to combine. Add flour and stir just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips, then transfer batter to prepared pan. Smooth top. Bake just until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the brownies comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely then cut into squares.