Deep Brownies

Another variation on the standard “one bowl” brownie recipe. The extra cocoa deepens the chocolate flavor and the small amount of cayenne adds a nice heat but nothing overwhelming. The salt kind of disappeared — next time, I’ll probably use coarser salt, maybe a little more, maybe just sprinkled on the top.

Ingredients

4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 sticks butter
2 c sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 c flour
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 c cocoa nibs (or amount to taste)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Melt the butter and chocolate in a glass bowl in a microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar and cocoa powder and mix thoroughly. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Add flour gradually until blended. Add cayenne, salt, and cocoa nibs to taste. Pour into buttered 13×9 baking pan and bake about 25 minutes — a knife inserted will come out clean but brownies will still be a little gooey (that’s how I like them).