Double Chocolate Brownies with Cinnamon and Chipotle

Everyone has been asking me to bake treats, so I decided to make some brownies...I still have copious amounts of cocoa, for some reason. I also used up the last bit of white chocolate and chocolate chips.

The brownies are very easy to make, and I added some cinnamon and chipotle pepper to give a bit of a kick, and instead of using melted butter I used olive oil.

Start off by heating the oven to 350F and lining an 8" X 8" pan with foil.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon dried chipotle chili powder

Whisk together:

3/4 cup olive oil or melted butter
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Continue to whisk, and add in 1/4 cup strong coffee.

Now add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until just combined.

Stir in:

1/2 cup chopped white chocolate
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake until the brownie is set, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 25 - 30 minutes.








Cool before removing from the pan, and cutting into 16 squares.

• Decorate the top of the brownies before serving, by dusting with cocoa or icing sugar, or drizzle with melted chocolate.
• The spices can be omitted or changed. Try nutmeg, ground or fresh grated ginger, star anise or cayenne pepper.
• Vanilla extract is my personal favourite, but almond or peppermint will be a nice choice with the chocolate.
• Any chopped chocolate or chocolate chips can be used, alone or in combination.
• If you are a fan of nuts in brownies, some suggestions are pecans, almonds or hazelnuts.
• Dried fruit such as cranberries or cherries will add a chewy texture to the cakey brownie.
• The coffee worked with the chocolate and cinnamon. Liqueur can be used instead...Kahlua, Grand Marnier, dark rum are a few good choices to try.
• Orange zest, toffee bits, peanut butter heated up and swirled into the brownie before baking, or chopped candied ginger chunks are some other ideas to try.
• The brownies will freeze well, and as Christmas is approaching can be wrapped and given as gifts.