SPICY CINNAMON BROWNIES WITH SALTED PEANUT BUTTER ICING

Spicy Cinnamon Brownies with Salted Peanut Butter Icing image

Provided by Amanda Freitag

Categories dessert

Time 2h20m

Yield 12 large or 24 small brownies

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the baking pan
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter
10 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (or dark chocolate pistoles)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Aleppo pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
6 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla paste
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups cake flour, sifted
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Cocoa powder, for garnish

Steps:

For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9-by-13-inch nonstick baking pan with cooking spray.
Melt the butter, chocolate, cinnamon, Aleppo pepper and chili powder together in the top of a double boiler or in the microwave (for 4 minutes). Stir with a rubber spatula until all the chocolate is melted. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
Combine the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla paste in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip on high speed until the mixture becomes pale and pulls ribbons when the whisk is run through it, 2 to 3 minutes.
Fold the melted chocolate into the egg mixture with a rubber spatula, gently stirring from bottom to top until the chocolate is fully incorporated. Add the salt to the cake flour, then fold half of the flour into the egg and chocolate mixture until thoroughly combined. Fold in the remaining flour.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan making sure the batter is level and evenly spread in the pan. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean when placed in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.
For the icing: Combine the cream cheese, butter, peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Wipe down the sides and the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Spread the icing on top of the brownies in an even layer. Dust with cocoa powder, then cut and serve. Alternately, place the icing in a piping bag and pipe icing stars on top. Dust with cocoa powder, then cut and serve.