Ingredients
Brownies:
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter (or margarine)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
5 Tbsp. cocoa
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayanne pepper
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Chocolate fudge icing (optional):
1 stick butter (or margarine)
4 Tbsp. cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1/2 bag powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Preparation
Brownies: Cream sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl or electric mixer.
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa, cinnamon, and chili powders. Add dry ingredients to first mixture and mix carefully.
Spread in 13 x 9 greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Or, make brownie bites: Grease a non-stick mini muffin tin and divide the batter evenly among the cups - about 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Chocolate fudge icing: Heat butter (or margarine), milk, and cocoa until butter (or margarine) is melted. Mix 1/2 bag powdered sugar with 1 tsp. vanilla. Beat melted ingredients into powdered sugar/vanilla mixture until smooth. Spread on cake or brownies immediately after removing them from oven. Add nuts to top while icing is still hot, if desired.
