Mexican brownies with chocolate and cinnamon are the perfect way to finish a Mexican feast. Unlike American brownies, they have a nice kick of chili (but not enough to burn!).
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'I'm going to turn into a burrito soon.'
That was my husband one night.
I'll admit, I had been on a bit of a Mexican roll.
We had it Tuesday, then twice on the weekend and again the night before writing this.
In 10 days I made 48 tortillas!
Last Friday night's Mexican feast (the largest of the dinners) for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day, which featured my Mexican chili brownies, was a rip-roaring success (well I think so anyway).
The aim of the Jamie Oliver day was to serve a dinner that was easy to make and was made from scratch, or as close to from scratch as possible.
For dinner we had shredded beef burritos and chicken fajitas and the only things I didn't make were the salsa and taco shells.
Ingredients
- Coconut oil - or melted butter if you prefer
- Dark chocolate
- Fresh chili
- Eggs - lightly beaten
- Caster sugar
- Cinnamon - ground
- Plain flour - or all purpose flour
- Almond meal - or pecan, hazelnut or macadamia meal
- Icing sugar and cinnamon to dust - how to make your own icing sugar
Probably the highlight of the night was when the boys dared each other to eat a chili.
I picked them from the garden that morning and had them as table decoration but the challenge was set.
These are no ordinary chilis.
The little baby ones are hot hot hot.
About 10 seconds after they'd bitten into them I was in hysterics.
I'm talking laugh-until-you-cry hilarity.
Later they bet two of my girlfriends to eat them for payment and they obliged.
Some of my favourite quotes were:
- To our doctor friend 'do you think I need to go to the hospital?'
- 'I think I need to go to the emergency room.'
- 'Just when you think it's gone it's like they come back even angrier!'
After the entertainment it was time for dessert.
After such a feast, I thought a little something to nibble on would be more appropriate (plus I knew there'd be leftovers!).
There was one authentic Mexican recipe - Mexican wedding cakes - but there needed to be chocolate.
I played around a little with my raspberry and pecan brownies - which are more like American brownies - to Mexican-ify it by adding a little chili, which I probably could have added more of and a nice spoonful of cinnamon.
Instead of making them with butter, I used coconut oil and the result was perfect Mexican brownies.
They were still gooey in the middle with the essential crunchy bits on top.
A sprinkling of cinnamon-laced icing sugar finished them off nicely.
Enjoy!
What about you? Do you know of any Mexican desserts?
Recipe
Mexican chocolate cinnamon brownies
Ingredients
- 90 g coconut oil
- 120 g dark chocolate
- 1 small chili split down the middle and de-seeded
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 225 g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 90 g plain flour
- 50 g almond/pecan/hazelnut/macadamia meal
- Icing sugar and cinnamon to dust.
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C fan-forced.
- Grease and line a large loaf tin so that the paper extends over the long sides of the tin.
- Place the coconut oil, dark chocolate and chili in a large heat-proof bowl and zap in the microwave 20 seconds at a time until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Leave the mixture to cool for a few minutes then removed the chili and whisk in the eggs.
- Stir through the sugar, cinnamon, flour and almond meal.
- Spread the batter into the tin.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Leave to cool completely in the tin.
- Slice up into generous squares and enjoy warmed a little sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar.
Kristin says
I have a Q regarding the chili - do you puree it?
Claire says
Hi Kristin. I didn't because I didn't want it to be too hot. I just warmed it then discarded it.
milkteaxx says
choc and cinnamon go very well together, esp in this cold weather! yum!
Claire says
They do don't they?!
celia says
Ooh Claire, chilli brownies! They sound divine! And yes, your friends are all good sports indeed! :)
Claire says
You couldn't really taste the chili but the cinnamon was wonderful!
Hotly Spiced says
This looks like a really fun night. I love all your table decorations. The taco stand is very enviable. I just love Mexican food and you've inspired me to go Mexican with my next dinner party. Now I just need to find a taco stand! xx
Claire says
I inspired mum too. She's having her own fiesta this Saturday!
Stephanie@Henry Happened says
I wouldn't mind having a Mexican week up at the house, haha! This dinner party looks and sounds like lots of fun!
Claire says
It was so much fun Stephanie!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I love Mexican wedding cookies! I made them for NYE and gave some an extra batch to Celia, Tania and Charlie too (after I ate my share :P ). Hehe cute pic of everyone in their sombreros!
Claire says
Mum very cleverly made them into a log for her Mexican night. I'm looking forward to seeing how they turn out.
Katrin says
Now I wished I sent you our new dessert sauce, also Mexican inspired-chocolate,chilli, cinnamon & saffron, would have been perfect with your brownies
Claire says
Oh wow that sounds amazing Katrin!
Geraldine says
Hi Katrin,
I have just seen you comment about the dessert sauce and would love the recipe
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Perfect meal. The chilli eating scares me. :)
I don't do many Mexican desserts. Churros with chocolate pots and flan maybe. Love the brownies.
Claire says
It was hilarious Maureen! I did contemplate churros but that would mean getting over my fear of deepfrying and I wasn't quite up for that.