Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze
Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze add just a touch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper to rich chocolate brownies to spice up an iconic dessert.
I received an email from Claudia Hall Christian of The Denver Cereal, a local writer and blog editor asking if I would submit a recipe to them for a Brownie Contest. Not my usual gig but why not… so I submitted these Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze.
I am simply an experienced cook and I don’t think I’ve ever entered anything I’ve made in a contest. Still I thought, why not?
I’ve been wanting to get this recipe for Mexican Brownies on the blog for awhile so the timing was perfect for both the contest and my friends who always share my treats. I actually translated a recipe I’ve made for a poplar Mexican drink and put those same flavors in a brownie, except the tequila. Cinnamon and cayenne pepper…just enough to spice it up a bit but no, they are not ‘hot.’
I mean what’s not to love about a brownie that combines cinnamon, cayenne, and chocolate with espresso? All in moderation; you do not want to set your mouth on fire, just get a tiny tickle! Yes, maybe a bit over the top but at least I did not stuff an Oreo inside of them; a trend that I do not get and never will!
I did this for fun and was the most surprised of all when my recipe for Mexican Brownies won the contest and will be incorporated into her story of the event. Whoo hoo; does that make me a celebrity? Or at least my brownies? Yummm!
I love these Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze; they are rich and decadent (read…not cakey, not one bit) and that combination of flavors? Absolutely fantastic! The fact that they are also easy to make is a bonus.
If I had been going to the market, I might have purchased some Ibarra Mexican chocolate to use as it already combines chocolate with cinnamon but I found that the mixture using chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper did the trick. Next time maybe? I do like making recipes that work with most ingredients home cooks already have so I’m glad I went this route.
I love making brownies, they are such a nice treat but so much easier than pulling off a cake or even cupcakes at high altitude where I am… so I’ve got a bunch more to share with you!I’ll
SO Many Delicious Brownies!
- Chocolate Stout Brownies
- German Chocolate Brownies
- Chocolate Chip Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Gooey Brownies with Toasted Pecans & White Chocolate Chips
- Red Wine Chocolate Brownies with Toasted Walnuts
- Valrhona Chocolate Brownies with Pecans
- Kahlua Pumpkin Spice Brownies
- Chocolate Brownies with Salted Caramel Glaze
- Orange Chocolate Chip Blondies
PIN IT! ‘Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze’
Mexican Brownies with Espresso Chocolate Glaze
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- â…“ cup cocoa
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried espresso powder
- ½ cup plus 2 teaspoons teaspoons boiling water
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 4 ½ tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- 6 ounces chopped chocolate or chocolate chips
For the Espresso Glaze
- 6 tablespoons butter
- â…“ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup cocoa
- 1 tablespoon dried espresso powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch cayenne
- 16 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Put the 1/3 cup cocoa and 1 & 1/2 teaspoons espresso into a medium size mixing bowl; add the boiling water and blend thoroughly with a whisk. Add the 2 ounces of chopped unsweetened chocolate and whisk until melted.
- Add the butter and the vegetable oil and whisk until combined. Add the 2 eggs and 2 egg yolks and whisk until just combined then add the vanilla, sugars, cinnamon and salt and whisk.
- Fold in the flour until just mixed and then mix in the 6 ounces of chocolate.
- Cover the inside of a 9X13″ pan with aluminum foil and butter the inside. Pour the dough into the pan and cook for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
To Make the Glaze
- Combine the butter, buttermilk, cocoa, espresso and cinnamon in medium size pan and bring to a boil on the stove. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat with a whisk until smooth.
- Remove the brownies from the oven and immediately pour the glaze over the top and spread. Cool the brownies completely at room temperature. then remove them from the pan using the foil edges. Allow to cool for 90 minutes minimum.
Hiya. These look fabulous. Quick question please.
When refer to espresso do you mean:
Instant espresso powder
Ground espresso beans, or
Brewed espresso.
Thank!!
I use the instant espresso powder and will make sure the recipe calls for that now too. BUT in a pinch…I would substitute either of the other too as well (to taste) if they are what I had on hand.
The other day I asked some FB friends for their favorite brownie recipe, and made one of the recipes. The recipe has been a hit four times now, yes I have made the recipe four whole times:-) That being said, because I was given so many lovely recipes, I made a list of ones I still need to make. I am totally putting this gorgeous recipe on my list, love the addition of coffee especially:-) The frosting looks soooooo perfect, OH MY YUM! Hugs, Terra
Looks yummy, I want to try this! http://emsdarkroom.blogspot.com/ em xx
Best idea ever, well maybe not ever, there is electricity, but this is pretty darn close!
“I mean what’s not to like about a brownie that combines cinnamon and chocolate with espresso? Yes, maybe a bit over the top but at least I did not stuff an Oreo inside of them; a trend that I just do not get I won’t deny.”
HA HA HA HA I love you, girl! And these are dreamy good… cinnamon and espresso – normally I add one or the other to anything chocolate but both is fabulous! Love this recipe. Love the icing!
Congratulations!!! I can completely see why this was a winning recipe. Anything with espresso is a winner for me. Pinning now to make very soon!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I’m so happy for you and clearly these brownies are a winner. I am a die hard brownie girl and I love that you say these are not cakey… cakey brownies are the worst, in my humble opinion. These sound divine and I assure you, I will be making them!
Fabulous looking brownies worthy of any contest for sure! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
Congratulations Barb! But I must say I’m not surprised at all! These look freakin’ fabulous! And I really enjoy glazed brownies. 🙂
Congratulations! This certainly looks like a worthy contest winner!
Congratulations on your win…these brownies look pretty flippin’ amazing, so I’m not surprised!
So glad you shared this recipe here on your own site and your great pictures. Congratulations on winning the brownie contest. Don’t think it was a decision they had to deliberate over much as they look exactly as you say. rich and decadent. Exactly what an award winning brownie should be.
Congratulations! I hope there are some left for me to devour 🙂 They look divine!
Congratulations on your award winning brownie recipe- the flavors of cinnamon, espresso and chocolate sound wonderful in a brownie;-)
Congratulations on a well-deserved win for this exceptional recipe, Barb! I have to agree with the Oreo-stuffed trend…not my thing. I’d love to have one of these and a nice cup of sweet, creamy coffee.
I have been reading your blog, Barb, even though I did not leave any comments:) Now that I am back from Serbia and somewhat settled in the school-year routine, I can get back to my normal activities.
My girls love brownies, and especially the combination of coffee and chocolate. These look perfect and I am not surprised one bit that you won the contest:)
BTW, that cookie thing drives me nuts. But so do the cake pops. And frying desserts that are not supposed to be fried, just for novelty sake:) I’ll stop, as I don’t want to be a grumpy ol’ troll!
shhh, i don’t get the oreo thing either. probably because I have eaten my weight in Oreos during my pregnancy, but anyhow, these brownies look scrumptious. I love the cinnamon and the coffee touch
Omg 3 of my favorite flavors in one bite! Heavenly! Congratulations on a well deserved win!
I love cinnamon and espresso paired with chocolate, these look like incredible brownies!
oh my, these look amazing!!! 🙂 Congrats on winning the contest too!!!
These look fabulous Barb! So glad I don’t have these around… otherwise I’d be one very big man right now.
Congratulations, these sound great. I can totally see why they won.
Oh these are beauties! I think I could eat just the glaze and be happy. Glad to hear the recipe was a winning one, how could it not?
By the way- I like the “take a bigger bite” button to click through to the whole post. Is that a recent change or have I missed it before? Much better than “click here”.
You had me at Mexican brownies! Ohhhh dear!!! Hope they make an appearance when I’m around. Hint, hint. LOL!
I think maybe I tried these at your house before and they are indeed winners! As I recall there is a perfect little hint of espresso but not too much. Thanks for this recipe. I can’t wait to try them out of the Wednesday lunch bunch.
You did try them and assured me they were not at all ‘over the top.’ Guess some others agreed!