Victory Brownies

I made these on election day and friends and co-workers loved the hint of orange and the sparkle of heat from a pinch of cayenne pepper. Hazelnuts are a star in these brownies, but walnuts can be substituted.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 221 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate
• 1 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or amount to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter 8 inch square baking pan.

Step 2

Melt unsweetened chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat.

Step 3

Stir in brown sugar, white sugar, and honey; mix until sugar is dissolved. Beat in eggs, a little at a time. Add flour, salt, baking powder, vanilla, hazelnuts, cayenne pepper, and orange zest. Stir until blended well and mixture is glossy. Pour batter evenly into pan.

Step 4

Bake until the surface looks dry and a toothpick inserted in the center has just a film of chocolate on it, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack about 12 minutes and cut into squares while still warm.