BROWN BUTTER MEXICAN STYLE BROWNIES

These brownies won me a Blue Ribbon at the L.A. County fair! That is right, my husband and I love attending fairs and back in the day, I loved entering the culinary contests. This recipe was an original recipe that I created more than 12 years ago for a chocolate contest at the LA County Fair. It was special at the time because I added cayenne pepper...this was before it was common place to put hot spice into sweet recipes. I also browned my butter which gave it such a rich nutty flavor. If you like sweet and spicy, ooey and gooey, this is the recipe for you! Try it and tell me how it does for you. 

Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter and dust with chocolate powder.

Melt the 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat – until golden brown (don’t burn). Let cool slightly. Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla to the saucepan and stir until combined.

Add the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, chili powder, espresso, salt and baking powder and mix until smooth.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Toothpick will test will be fudge like. Completely cool in the pan on a rack.

 

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter (plus some for pan)
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (plus some for pan)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne chili powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup pecans
• 1/3 cup walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter and dust with chocolate powder.
2. Melt the 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat – until golden brown (don’t burn). Let cool slightly.
3. Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla to the saucepan and stir until combined.
4. Add the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, chili powder, espresso, salt and baking powder and mix until smooth.
5. Add nuts.
6. Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Toothpick will test will be fudge like.
8. Completely cool in the pan on a rack.