Spicy Brownies {and a Baked cookbook giveaway!}

November 23, 2012

Spicy Brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

"...you're east of East St. Louis
and the wind is making speeches
and the rain sounds like a round of applause." ~ Tom Waits "Time"
Today is splendid. The weather's soundtrack has been a fine performance of late autumn in blustery-grey minor. Mine is Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. (I just watched Melancholia for the 5th time last night.)

I hope that everyone had a peachy Thanksgiving! As of now, I'm just starting to be able to move around again without the safety net of stretchy pants. Pilates, however, is still out of the question. Sorry, Mari Winsor.

If you're out shopping today, I hope you make it back home without too many bruises or Scrooge-ish thoughts playing around in your head. I have never ventured outside on the day after Thanksgiving...I prefer to stay huddled within the safe confines of my cosy kitchen and remain anti-social until the chaos settles down.

Spicy Brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

This year, in order to get a head start on my fashionably late holiday spirit, I decided to have a giveaway! (Actually I was supposed to do this in October, but my head was stuck in September where my summer-self was still confused about the need for sweaters.)

If you're not familiar with the Baked cookbooks, you're in for a treat. Literally. I'm giving away their latest book called Baked Elements. The book is divided into ten chapters, each one focusing on a different ingredient- FYI, chapter two is lemons and limes! ;) These sassy, spiced brownies are from chapter seven, cinnamon. They're fudgy, and chewy, and beg to be enjoyed with a glass of ice cold milk.

This cookbook is a perfect gift for the baker in your life (especially if that's you!).

Giveaway Details:
Entries/comments will be accepted until Wed. November 28th (at 5pm EST). Due to shipping costs, this contest is open to US residents only.  I will announce the winner on this post (on Nov. 28th) and notify them by email.

To enter:
Leave a comment about your personal favourite baking ingredient! (Chocolate, peanut butter, butter, lemons etc) *{Note: I moderate all comments so don't worry if yours does not appear immediately. I'll be sure to have them up by the end of each day.}*

Bonus entries: (optional)
1) Become a Facebook fan of une gamine dans la cuisine. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did so.

2) Follow me on Twitter. Leave a separate comment letting me know that you're following.

3) Join me on Pinterest. Leave a separate comment letting me know that you're following. 

I will notify the winner Wednesday, November 28th at 5pm est. After that time, comments on this post will be closed. Good luck! 


Spicy Brownies | une gamine dans la cuisine

Spicy Brownies
yields 12 large, or 24 small servings (Go with the large!)
recipe from Baked Elements 

for the brownies
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons dark, unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder {Note: I didn't have ancho powder so I used 1 Tablespoon of paprika + 1/2 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper instead)
2 teaspoons freshly grated cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
9 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (60-72%), coarsely chopped {Note: I used Ghirardelli}
2 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, coarsely chopped {Note: I used all dark!}
8 ounces (that's 2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

method
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch glass (or light-coloured metal) baking pan, Line the pan with parchment paper and butter the parchment.

In a medium-size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, chili powder, salt, and ginger; Set aside.

Create a double-boiler: Place both chopped chocolates and butter into a large, heat-proof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Stiring occasionally, heat until the chocolate and butter are completely melted. Turn off the heat, but keep the bowl over the water of the double boiler. Add both sugars and whisk until well combined. Remove the bowl from the double boiler and allow the mixture to come to room temperature. 

Once the mixture has cooled, whisk in 3 eggs until just combined. Add the remaining 2 eggs and whisk just to combine. (At this point, over-mixing will result in cakey brownies.) Add the flour mixture and, using a large rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients until there is just a small amount of flour mixture visible. Pour the batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with sea salt (if using).

Bake for 30 minutes, rotating the pan half-way through the baking time, until a thin knife inserted into the center if the brownie comes out with only a few moist crumbs. {Note: My brownies took about 35 minutes to bake, but my oven is fickle.} Remove the pan from the oven and place onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing. 

Congratulations, Julie E.!! Sweetness will be on it's way shortly! :)

Thanks to everyone who entered!! xo

122 comments:

  1. Gorgeous brownies! This spicy version looks fantastic.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Those brownies look great. My favorite baking ingredient is peanut butter!

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  3. My absolute favorite baking ingredient is butter. Can't live without it.

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  4. i'm your newest twitter follower!

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  5. i love cinnamon--it's my favorite!

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  6. Yes please to spicy brownies! My favorite baking ingredient? Depends on the season, but you can never go wrong with chocolate :).

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  7. I follow you on all social media, yay! :)

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  8. Personal fave ingredient - well, you really can't bake anything without sugar, especially brown! Chocolate, PB, butter, cream - they all come in after that :)

    GREAT GIVEAWAY! I have wanted to check out this book for ages!

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  9. I'm so disappointed I can't enter, but I know whoever wins that cookbook will be thrilled! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving - I'm totally with you on avoiding shops on Black Friday.

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  10. Been stalking you for donkey's years (so no news there).
    All-time favourite ingredient with EVERYTHING: lemonses, my precious!

    :)

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  11. If I had to choose 1 ingredient, I guess it would be cinnamon. I love baking cookies, biscotti, breads, muffins, and pies with cinnamon. It smells so good, too.

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  12. I follow you on twitter @amylou61

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  13. I'm following you on Pinterest (user name Amy Leach)

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  14. My favorite baking ingredient is definitely peanut butter, it makes everything yummier!!
    spgoddess55(at)msn(dot)com

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  15. I follow you everywhere and I wish I had one of your brownies right now!!! Love a spicy brownie or two;-)
    Don't you love black Friday?? or the idea of camping outside in front of a store for several days to buy something(?) I think I liked it better when we called it, the day after Thanksgiving-don't go it's too crowded!!!

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  16. Beaux Brownies..
    Thanks for the book recommendations:-)
    Je demeure au Canada..I appreciate the recommendation as I had never heard of these books:-)

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  17. My favorite is chocolate (preferably dark!)

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  18. My favorite baking ingredient is dark chocolate cocoa powder!

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  19. I love baking with butter. It has to be unsalted butter too.

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  20. I love the Baked books. What a sweet giveaway. I also have been like a month or two behind;)Time to catch up! My favorite baking ingredient-flour:)

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  21. I am (already) a facebook fan!

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  22. Love, love, love this book and those brownies! Hopefully you had a great thanksgiving! P.s. count me out for the giveaway ;)

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  23. My very favorite baking ingredient is chocolate of course!

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  24. I love baking with fresh fruits, especially apricots during their brief seaon.
    karenreichmann@hotmail.com

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  25. My fav baking ingredient has got to be ground almonds! I use them in so many things.

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  26. Love the baked cookbooks, their recipes are always so inventive. I know it's unoriginal, but my favorite baking ingredient is probably butter. A good quality butter, creamed properly or browned can lift just about any recipe to dizzying heights!

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  27. I liked the facebook page, which, frankly, I cannot believe I haven't done before. Your blog was one of the first food blogs I really started following :)

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  28. Followed you on twitter :)

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  29. I followed you on pinterest!

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  30. My favorite ingredient would be spices.
    cjbrick@ymail.com

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  31. I'm a fan of une gamine dans la cuisine on Facebook.
    cjbrick@ymail.com

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  32. I Follow une gamine dans la cuisine on Twitter.
    cjbrick@ymail.com

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  33. I Follow une gamine dans la cuisine on Pinterest.
    cjbrick@ymail.com

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  34. Thanks for a great give away! As to favorite baking ingredient... only one? How about a category: spices? Can't live or bake without 'em!

    I'm Debbie and I bake in Upstate New York...

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  35. My favorite is cinnamon. I love to read your blogs...so many wonderful baking ideas. Thanks.

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  36. Yesterday was definitely a food hangover day! Now I'm ready to eat again... can I start with these brownies?

    I love using unsweetened chocolate in my desserts.

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  37. My favorite ingredient is real butter.

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  38. Coffee is my favorite ingredient. These baked spicy brownies are one of my favorite recipes, but I add caramel on top and swirl a bit. My coworkers call them "devil brownies."

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  39. I've never had the interest to join the Black Friday crowds either. I actually prefer to shop online as much as I can.

    Love the brownies and I'd love to win the cookbook. I'd have to say that my favorite baking ingredient is chocolate, hands down. :)

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  40. I'll have to say butter. I love using it and the flavor it gives to baked goods. Thanks for offering the giveaway.

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  41. Valerie - these brownies sounds simply amazing! I just bought the book and in love with every recipe. Your photos are mouth watering.

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  42. My favorite baking ingredient is a tie between butter and chocolate.

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  43. I'm following on Twitter @WhtLghtsWdnsdy

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  44. I follow you on Pinterest (julerybox)

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  45. My go to ingredient is peanut butter. Love it!

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  46. My favorite ingredient to bake with is vanilla

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  47. I love baking with whole wheat pastry flour! Also espresso powder.

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  48. It may sound odd, but my favorite baking ingredient is sea salt - a little bit of salt makes something sweet so much tastier!

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  49. My favorite baking ingredients are chocolate and peanut butter - the best combination ever!!!

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  50. I am now a Facebook fan of une gamine dans la cuisine

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  51. Always chocolate...and chocolate + spice, is just heaven! These look amazing!

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  52. My favorite ingredient is chocolate! I look forward to baking these soon.

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  53. I'm following on Pinterest as well.

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  54. Chocolate is always a good fall back when baking!

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  55. Follow you on FB (name: Skylar Smith)

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  56. Follow you on twitter (@hazeleyedkar)

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  57. Follow you on Pinterest (hazeleyedkar)

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  58. Those brownies look divine! Yum! Favorite baking ingredient? Hmmm ... butter. Love it! Oh, and vanilla!

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  59. My favorite baking ingredient is LOVE!

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  60. Following you on Pinterest! (hawkeyehusker)

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  61. They look yummy. I enjoy baking with Splenda
    tanyainjville at yahoo dot com

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  62. I liked your facebook page (Tanya Riley)

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  63. following on pinterest (Tanya Riley)

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  64. my favourite ingredient is definitely chocolate because you can do so much with it!

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  65. GINGER! any kind ... fresh, ground, candied ... love it! :)

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  66. My favorite baking ingredient? Hmmmm, I'll have to say cocoa powder (does that count as chocolate?). I seriusly adore chocolate and eat it almonst every day!

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  67. i love the spice in here! and wow, these sound like some amazing brownies! my favorite baking ingredient is vanilla extract, i think. or chocolate chips. or salt. so hard to choose!

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  68. These sound yummy! My favorite ingredient in baking is sweet, unsalted butter. Nothing is the same without it!

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  69. Following you on interest...are you on instagram? thanks!

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  70. my favorite ingredient is sea salt! love your blog!

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  71. I would have to say that my favorite baking ingredient is brown sugar, particularly dark brown sugar.

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  72. My favorite ingredient is chocolate. The darker the better.

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  73. Definitely chocolate! I can't wait to try these brownies (note, I don't live in the US but will gift the book to my sister who does! )

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  74. The brownies look great! I have this cookbook and LOVE IT. Good luck, everyone!

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  75. I love all the Baked books. I think my favorite baking ingredient has to be vanilla- real vanilla!

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  76. The cookbook is on my christmas wish list since it came out.
    Your brownies look so moist and fudgy. Love the spicy kick

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  77. i stalk you everywhere LOL Facebook, twitter and Pinterest

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  78. The brownies look great. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Brownies are my all time favorite dessert, so I guess baking with chocolate would be my favorite thing :)

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  79. Butter makes everything better! Thanks for the chance!

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  80. I think Salt is my favorite ingredient. It works well with sweet and savory, and really brings out flavors!

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  81. I am following you on Facebook as well

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  82. These brownies look fabulous! My newest favorite baking ingredient is chocolate extract - makes chocolate-y desserts even more chocolate-y.

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  83. I wish I lived in America :(

    These brownies look amazing, I love twists in the tastes :)

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  84. I really enjoy baking with lemon zest.
    Not only for the flavor but for the aroma while grating it.

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  85. I'm following you on Pinterest (Andrea Celesia)

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  86. I'm gonna cheat and say my favorite ingredient is the chocolate-coffee combo. One cannot be without the other.

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  87. Lovely brownies, and just the way I love it: with milk.
    I add lemon zest to all things I bake... :)

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