Tex-Mex Brownies

IMG_4118These brownies have a great “spiciness” to them from the ground red pepper.  Serve with ice cream to balance the spice if needed.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups butter
1-16 oz. package bittersweet chocolate morsels
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place butter and bittersweet chocolate morsels in a heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until completely. melted.  Remove from heat and cool for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, whisk together flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended, stir in semisweet chocolate morsels.  Whisk together granulated sugar and next 3 ingredients until smooth.  Whisk in bittersweet chocolate mixture.  Whisk chocolate mixture into flour mixture just until combined.  Line bottom and sides of a 13″ x 9″ pan with parchment paper, allowing 2-3″ to extend over sides, lightly grease parchment.  Pour batter into pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.  Cool in pan.  Lift mixture out of pan and cut into squares.

Yield:  24 squares

Recipe from Southern Living Magazine