Cinnamon Spiced Brownies

I think one of my favourite comfort foods of all time would have to be brownies. Every since I was little, a neighbour from a few floors down in my condominium block would bake a small batch of rich chocolate brownies for my brother and I. Back then, I never knew exactly what it was that I was eating but it didn't matter - all that mattered was that it tasted good. For some reason, in the school that I am in, brownies are a big deal.

When I used to live in Sydney a few years ago, it was always cakes or cookies that made their way to bakesales. At times we would see students walk around with giant Freddo Frogs of Caramel Koalas to raise money instead. But brownies never made it into the process of money-raising. However, here in Singapore, bakesales are almost synonomous with brownies.

There is something about the dense, chocolatey and fudgy characteristic of brownies that is just so appealing. Slightly sticky yet yeilding crumbs. Rich and comforting, though not cloyingly so. Brownies are the ultimate, I think, in delivering that satisfaction for chocolate.

Last wednesday was a friend's birthday and I decided to bake some brownies for her. I had initially thought of baking her cinnamon rolls because cinnamon rolls are one of the things she really likes as well. But bread baking requires time - time I did not have. So, the only way to go is, obviously, adding a little cinnamon into a basic brownie recipe to create that exotic spicy flavour.

Cinnamon Spiced Brownies

Ingredients

140g unsalted butter

200g brown sugar

95g unsweetened cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, cold

65g all purpose flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method

Preheat the oven to 170ْC and line an 8-inch baking pan with greaseproof paper

Mix butter, salt, sugar and cocoa in a bowl and over a pan of simmering water

Stir mixture until butter has completely melted and it is just hot enough to touch

Remove bowl from pan and let cool until warm

Stir in vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating vigorously after each addition

Stir until batter looks shiny and thick

In a separate bowl, sift together flour and cinnamon

Add the flour mixture to the batter and stir until flour is no longer visible

Beat batter vigorously for 40 quick strokes before pouring into pan

Bake for 25 mins or until toothpick comes out with a few crumbs still attached

Let cool completely before cutting into 16 pieces

These brownies were really good. The cinnamon provided a very nice twist to the regular brownies which is nice when the regular browies are all you see nowadays. I hope my dear friend loved eating them as I loved baking them. Happy Birthday!