Cinnamon-Spice Brownies

Name: Cinnamon-Spice Brownies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 3 dozen.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup baking cocoa; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 2/3 cup butter, melted, divided; 1/2 cup boiling water; 2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon Gustus Vitae spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips; FROSTING:; 6 tablespoons butter, softened; 1/2 cup baking cocoa; 2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/3 cup evaporated milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gail Mehle of Rock Springs, Wyoming submitted the original recipe for these brownies with a secret ingredient: cinnamon. The spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar was a perfect fit for her recipe, adding just a hint of heat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup butter, melted, divided
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Gustus Vitae spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
FROSTING:
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a bowl, combine cocoa and baking soda; blend in 1/3 cup melted butter. Add boiling water, stirring until thickened. Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla and remaining butter. Add flour, spicy chocolate cinnamon sugar and salt. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until brownies test done. Cool.
For frosting, cream butter in a bowl. Combine cocoa, sugar and cinnamon; add alternately with the milk. Beat to a spreading consistency; add vanilla. Add more milk if necessary. Spread over the brownies.