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Brownie bonanza: 12 recipes of goodness

Stir It Up's collection of ooey, gooey, chocolatey recipes for everyone's favorite dessert: brownies.

7. Kentucky Derby bars

Kitchen Report
Kentucky Derby bars with chocolate, pecans, cinnamon and a hint of cayenne pepper over a graham cracker crust.

  • By Laura Edwins Contributor

For the crust:
1 package graham crackers, crushed (2 cups crumbs)
5 tablespoons of butter 

For the bars:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shelled pecans (or walnuts), chopped
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pound the graham crackers inside their package into crumbs using a rolling pin. Empty into a large bowl, crush any remaining large pieces with the bottom of a jar or mug. Stir in 5 tablespoons of melted butter. Press crumbs into an 8″ x 8″ glass baking dish.

In a large bowl mix sugar and flour. Stir in eggs, butter, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and vanilla. Add walnuts and chocolate chips and stir until combined.

Spread mixture evenly over graham cracker crust.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until it has set, there should be a slight gloss to the crust. Remove and allow to cool completely. The bars will be soft and chewy but not runny.

Cut into squares and serve.

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Mark Sappenfield
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