Mexican Brownies Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/22/22
Mexican Brownies

 Leah Maroney
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 9 servings
Yield: 1 8-by8-inch pan
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
378 Calories
21g Fat
46g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 9
Amount per serving
Calories 378
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 79mg 26%
Sodium 205mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 46g 17%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 28mg 2%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 102mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Decadent, spicy, and of course sweet, these fudgy brownies are the perfect addition to your Dia de los Muertos spread. You can eat them any time at all though, they're amazing! Spice up these beautifully chocolatey brownies with cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a memorable dessert.

These babies are way better than boxed mix, but if you're looking for a quick fix, you can easily use boxed mix and just add in the cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Just follow the directions on the box, but make sure to use our tips for lining the pan and cutting them. No more digging brownie corners out of the pan anymore.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups sugar

  • 5 1/2 ounces (11 tablespoons) salted butter

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder

  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

  • 1/4 cup chopped bittersweet baking bar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather your ingredients.

    Mexican Brownies
    Leah Maroney 

  2. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Cut the paper in a square that will fit in the bottom of the pan with 4 flaps on each side that will line the sides. You can do this by making a 90-degree cut at the corners where each side meets. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  3. Place the butter and sugar in a large, microwave-safe bowl. You will do most of the stirring in this bowl, so make sure to pick one that will fit all of the batter. Heat it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove it from the microwave and stir. We used a whisk, but you can also use a hand-mixer.

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  4. Allow it to cool on the counter for a few minutes, then stir in the vanilla extract, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, and cocoa powder. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  5. Add in one egg at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing after each addition. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  6. In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  7. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until the flour mixture has been completely incorporated, but do not overmix.

    Mexican Brownies
    Leah Maroney 

  8. Gently stir in the chocolate chips and chocolate bar chunks. If you are adding nuts, add them now as well.

    Mexican Brownies
    Leah Maroney 

  9. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top so that it is even.

    Place the brownies in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the brownies are set. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  10. Allow the brownies to cool slightly in the pan and then lift the sides of the parchment paper to lift the brownies out of the pan. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  11. Cut the brownies when they have mostly cooled to get the cleanest cuts. 

    Mexican Brownies
     Leah Maroney

  12. Enjoy them with a cold glass of milk or a cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Tip

We used the brownie base from Life Made Simple. They are simply amazing, and it took her many tries to get the perfect combination. We spiced it up with Mexican spices and subbed in salted butter for unsalted.