Spicy Brownies

• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 finely chopped sauteed jalapeno (optional)
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350; prepare 9x9-inch or 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or butter flavored non-stick cooking spray.
2. Cream butter with mixer; margarine or spreads are not recommended.
3. Add sugar and red pepper to the butter; cream with mixer until fluffy.
4. Using a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla, almond extract, and eggs until just combined; do not overbeat; do not use mixer; overbeating results in brownies that rise too much during baking, and then fall as they cool.
5. If spicier brownies are desired, add jalapenos.
6. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt; adding ingredients separately to butter mixture can result in overbeating.
7. Gently stir the dry ingredients into butter mixture; if desired add chocolate chips to the butter mixture with the dry ingredients; stir until combined.
8. Spread mixture into prepared pan; if desired, evenly spread walnut pieces over the top of the batter.
9. For a 9x9-inch pan, bake on center rack for 35 to 40 minutes; for a 9x13-inch pan, bake on center rack for 30 to 35 minutes.
10. Cool on a wire rack and cut into squares.

butter, sugar, ground red pepper, eggs, vanilla, almond extract, flour, unsweetened cocoa, ground cinnamon, salt, chocolate chips, walnuts

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/spicy-brownies-109954 (may not work)