Tex-Mex Brownies

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
3 Tb sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon



1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13" x 9" pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. In large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in cocoa powder until smooth. Add 1 3/4 cups sugar and mix thoroughly. Remove pan from heat and stir in eggs and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and baking powder and mix well.

2. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan. In small bowl, combine 3 Tb sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix well. sprinkle evenly over brownie batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until brownies are just set. Cool completely and cut into bars.


Brownies Frosting

If you'd rather frost these brownies, omit the cinnamon sugar. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips with 1/3 cup peanut butter and heat for 2 minutes at 50% power until chips are almost melted. Mix well with wire whisk until blended and smooth, pour over brownies.



Diane Barker, Crosby Branch