In the February 2015 issue of Better Homes & Gardens, magazine. I found a  recipe for Cinnamon Spice Chocolate Brownies.  It reminded me of the movie Chocolat.   The main character,  Vianne  (Juliette Binoch) added chili powder to hot chocolate for Armande (Judi Dench) and a friendship was created. I thought I would test out the recipe to see if I wanted to add it to my favorites.  It was good but not quite what I had imagined so I changed a few ingredients and my version is below.  This one is a keeper. The exotic taste will take you by surprise.

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup  butter
• 1 cup  granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup  cold water
• 2   eggs
• 3 tbs  canola oil
• 1 tsp  Kahlúa
• 1-1/4 cups  all-purpose flour
• ½ cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp  baking powder
• ¼ tsp  ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp  salt
• 1/8 tsp  cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp  ground cloves
• 2 tbs  Hershey’s chocolate syrup
• Optional – cinnamon and sugar

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8x2 inch baking pan with foil, extending foil up over edges of pan.  Lightly coat the foil with non-stick spray. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan melt butter: remove from heat.  Whisk in sugar and water. Whisk in eggs, oil, and vanilla until combined.  Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, salt and cayenne chili pepper.  Stir in chocolate syrup. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan by lifting up on the foil.

Cut into bars. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.  Makes 16 brownies. Obviously, I might be able to cut the brownies into 16 pieces, but I can’t cut them evenly to save my life, as seen in the photos.

(For the original recipe please refer to the February 2015 issue of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine.)

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies

Enjoy with a cup of coffee or if you are feeling adventurous, a glass of wine!