CHILI-CHIPOTLE BROWNIE BARS

Chili-Chipotle Brownie Bars image

What fun I had creating these sweet and spiced-up brownies, and those who have sampled every change in the recipe have had fun as well. It may have taken a few tweaks to reach perfection, but after just one bite, I knew I'd nailed it. -Sheri Dunlap, Shawnee, Oklahoma

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield 2 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 chili dark chocolate candy bar (3-1/2 ounces)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
ICING:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Sift together sugar, flour, ground chipotle pepper and salt. Set aside., In top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over simmering water, melt butter and both types of chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Stir chocolate mixture into dry ingredients. Beat in eggs and vanilla., Spread batter into a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake until center is set, about 25 minutes (do not overbake). Cool completely. , For icing, beat together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and chipotle pepper. Spread over brownies. Cut into 24 bars.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 281 calories, Fat 17g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 147mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (25g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.