Just call me Detective Dough Boy!
This afternoon, my friends Randall and Jae are helping me prep for an upcoming audition. They recently moved into a new house, are having a baby, AND Randall just booked a CBS pilot so I’m bringing them a little celebration/thank you gift. Both of them like coffee and spice; I decided to make Brownies with Cayenne and Starbucks VIA. I wanted them to taste and look great, so I did research.
Guys, there is A LOT of stuff online about brownies.
Took some help from a box mix – my head was swimming from all the recipes – but I still veered from the package a little. First, I did not spray the 8×8 pan directly – I learned my lesson last time and used 2 pieces of aluminum. Some say to spray under the foil, some say spray over the foil. I did both.
Added butter, instead of oil, because I read it would make the batter richer. Pillsbury said to mix 50 strokes – a lot of sites warned about over mixing, so I listened and stopped at 53…59…
…really? After 65, there were STILL clumps of powder in there!!! Ignore.
All the articles were in agreement about this one – bake in the middle rack of the oven.
Licked the raw remnants while it cooked – the coffee and cayenne flavors aren’t too strong, but they’re there.
About halfway through baking, I sprinkled on some cinnamon sugar. Again, some recipes said to do this first, some said to do it last. I went straight down the middle.
The box was right about the cooking time – 50 minutes EXACTLY.
I cooled it on a rack in the pan…
…then did more brownie research online. CONTRADICTIONS GALORE!!! Alton Brown says to use a pizza cutter while they’re warm…
…everyone else says wait and use a plastic knife!!!
I went with the latter, and gave it 1.5 hours (1/2 hour before they’re supposedly completely cool). You’re supposed to flip the brownies upside down and peel the foil off, but I feared cinnamon sugar would scatter.
They were still pretty warm while I operated…
…which meant I needed to do a taste test. Soft, moist, delicious. More cake-ish, actually. I would definitely add more cayenne next time, since the kick is very subtle.
Randall and Jae get the prettiest ones…
…I found this blue plate at Anthropologie yesterday and thought it’d make a nice house warming gift, too.
Spicy Mocha Brownies with Cinnamon Sugar
Ingredients:
- 1 packet Starbucks VIA
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (add more if you want it hotter)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 box (19.5 oz.) Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
- 1/2 stick butter, melted
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 eggs
- Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle – 3 Raw Sugar Packets + 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine all the ingredients (except for the Cinnamon Sugar) and mix about 70 strokes. I’m guessing. Spread batter into an 8×8 pan sprayed/lined with foil. Bake 45-50 minutes, sprinkling the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture on top halfway. When a toothpick comes out clean, allow the brownies to cool. Cut with a plastic knife, or a pizza cutter, or whatever else you can think of!!!
My baking and detective work is DONE. Off to be an actor for a few hours!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
what a great way to use the VIA packets! i was given a few by a friend but much prefer the taste of freshly-brewed coffee…. had planned on throwing them out (or regift hehe) but looks like i’ll be baking instead!
yes don’t throw them out! i used them in my coffee yogurt bread too: http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/best-park-waking-up/
oh wow that bread looks delightful!!!! i now have the folger’s jingle stuck in my head…. haha!
Those sound awesome! I love the combination of chocolate with cayenne.
in my opinion brownies are one of the hardest things to bake, i have no idea why! they never bake through correctly for me, but these look perfect and delicious. you are definitely turning into a baker
Thanks! I just hyperventilated a little!!!
Sent from my iPhone Acting: http://www.lynnchen.com Food: http://www.theactorsdiet.com Body image: http://www.thickdumplingskin.com
Brownies look soo good! Good luck on your audition!!
Doctoring box mixes is the best!! you get all the homemade flair without the hassle!
Those look fantastic! You are a welcome guest at my place any time:-)
Mixing in the VIA packet was a brilliant idea!
I’m always so overwhelmed when I start googling recipes and baking tips, so I wind up taking a little from each source- like you did. I’m glad that they turned out so well!
Break a leg at your audition!
those look great! i love fluffy, cake-y brownies. and i LOVE that you fixed up a box mix. i do that a lot and it really saves a bunch of steps!
YUM! I am so motivated to make these! Perfect for the show tonight too.
oh my those brownies look YUM!
Randall Park is talented and I wish him luck. He did that K-Y commercial – was his wife also in it? The brownies look yummy! Don’t like coffee so I would exclude but I would add walnuts. As far as pregnant woman and caffeine intake the March of Dimes advises them to limit caffeine to less than 200 mg per day (that’s about one 12-ounce cup of coffee). Chocolate also contains caffeine. I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on TV but I would have baked (in my case go to a bakery) and served cherry pie.
yum! i want to try sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top next time! and i can never wait to cut. i always dig in right out of the oven. haha