Mexican Chocolate Streusel Brownies

NOTES: Look for Mexican chocolate in Mexican markets or well-stocked supermarkets. Or, you can omit the streusel.

Yield: MAKES: 32 2-inch brownies (serving size: nutritional analysis per small brownie.)

Ingredients

• 3/4  cup  butter, cut into chunks
• 9  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
• 1 1/2  cups  firmly packed brown sugar
• 1  cup  granulated sugar
• 5  large eggs
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  vanilla
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  almond extract
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• Mexican chocolate streusel

Preparation

1. In a large bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, stir butter and unsweetened chocolate until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla and almond extract. Stir in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt until well blended.

2. Spread batter level in a buttered and floured 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Squeeze handfuls of Mexican chocolate streusel until it sticks together, then crumble into chunks evenly over surface of batter.

3. Bake brownies in a 325° oven until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan on a rack for at least 20 minutes, then cut into 24 or 32 squares (if making up to 1 day ahead, cool completely, then wrap uncut brownies airtight).

Mexican chocolate streusel. In a food processor or a bowl, whirl or stir 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar until well blended. Add 5 tablespoons butter and whirl or rub in with your fingers until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Pulse in 4 1/2 ounces (about 1 1/2 tablets) coarsely chopped Mexican chocolate (some larger chunks will remain), or chop finely with a knife and stir into flour mixture. Use immediately or chill airtight for up to 1 week.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

229 (47% from fat)

Protein:

2.7g

Fat:

12g (sat 6.8)

Carbohydrate:

30g

Fiber:

1.4g

Sodium:

105mg

Cholesterol:

50mg