Fudgey brownies topped with a cinnamon candy infused frosting
The swimming pool is out to get me. Ok – well not really, but I’ve been having some seriously bad luck in the pool.
So – ya know I’ve had to cross train like crazy since I can’t run these days. Well, half my time is spent swimming – or it was.
My trouble all started on Christmas Eve Eve. I had this feeling like my ear was filling up with water. & then the memories all “flooded” back from my years on the high school swim team (as the slowest and least knowledgable swimmer ever – I mean I did a flip turn in a breaststroke event!) I was experiencing a good old ear infection. & this one was a beast!
I let that booger heal and then I proceeded back to the pool. & within a day’s time I managed to infect the other ear!
So, I took some time off to let me ears fully recuperate. Then, not 3 swim’s later, I totally messed up my eye! That boy watered all day and then was really swollen.
This one was probably my fault. I read online to use dish soap as an anti-fog goggle treatment. I had previously gotten a little in my eye, but after that, I was really careful about “buffing” the soap after it dried. Well, I guess not that careful.
From now on, I’ll just swim foggedly (yea, that’s not a word) through the pool!
Well – enough with that – now on to this awesome treat – perfect for Valentine’s Day!
A bag of red hots has been staring me down. I wasn’t sure how to use them, but then it came to me. I took my favorite brownie recipe (yea, it’s made with pumpkin, but you’d never know it) and added a frosting, but not just any frosting. A frosting flavored with red hot cinnamon candies. Simply melt the candies into a syrup and voila. I recommend making the syrup the day before.
Do you have any special Valentine’s plans?
Ingredients
- 1 cup red hot cinnamon candies
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3.5 oz 72% dark chocolate
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1- 15 oz can pumpkin
- 1.5 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 tbsp Red Hot Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp Red Hot Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon oil
- 5-10 drops red food coloring, if desired
Instructions
- Over medium heat, combine candies, water and sugar in small saucepan. Stir continuously. Candies will clump together. Heat until fully dissolved then allow to cool and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 inch glass pan and line with parchment paper.
- Melt dark chocolate at 50 percent power in 30 second increments, stirring in between. Once fully melted, set aside.
- In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In large bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, oil and red hot cinnamon simple syrup. Add dry to wet and mix until fully incorporated. Fold in melted chocolate.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place pan on wire rack and allow to cool at least one hour before frosting.
- Beat margarine. Add powdered sugar and beat until small pellets form. May take 3-4 minutes. Add simple syrup in 1/2 tbsp increments. Once desired consistency is reached, add cinnamon oil and red food coloring, if using. Beat 2-3 minutes or until frosting is fluffy.
- Spread frosting over cooled brownies.
More Valentine’s Treats:
I LOVE those red hot cinnamon candies! Awesome idea for an icing Megan!!
Thanks Mary Ann! The idea just magically came to me 🙂
oh my goodness, yes! Ear infections are serious stuff so definitely give yourself ample time to fully recuperate!!! I love these brownies and the color from the red hot frosting is amazing and so pretty!!!
aww – thank you, Alice!
Oh no! It’s so hard to be out of commission and then come back only to keep getting knocked down. That happened to me as a runner. I hated it! At least you’ve figured out a solution by now. Yay!
And you used these red hots to their best capacity. I love them on brownies! And they’re so festive.
Thanks Mir! It’s so frustrating – but hopefully, I’m back on my way to swimming again – and running very soon 😉
Sounds like you’ve had some bad luck with the pool, Megan! I used to get ear infections all the time when I was little, so I know the pain. But I would gladly devour these brownies and feel so much better! Love the red frosting on top!
The brownies definitely helped me feel better 😉 Thanks Gayle!
Oh no! The pool is out to get you it seems. Hope it ends now after the eyes. These brownies look amazing!
Me too! Thanks Zainab 🙂
Wow, this spicy frosting sounds like a delicious way to top a brownie, and who can resist that pretty color? This is so creative!
Thanks so much, Marcie!
I love brownies and red hots, but I’ve never thought to combine the two! Such a creative idea to use it in the frosting and how perfect are these for Valentine’s Day too? Love these!
Thanks so much, Danielle! One day I was just standing in the pantry & the idea came to me!
I LOVE chocolate covered cinnamon bears, so I just know I would love these brownies! I just love the color of that cinnamon frosting, so pretty for Valentine’s day!
Oh My Goodness, Aimee! I’m obsessed with chocolate covered cinnamon bears. These brownies are reminiscent of those flavors. Thank you 🙂
Ugh, I’m so sorry about all your recent ailments. It’s no fun when you can’t exercise! Especially when you have such yummy brownies lurking in the kitchen. What fun frosting!
Thanks Liz!
Yikes! I did synchronised swimming throughout high school and uni, and ear infections were the bane of my existence! Funny, I chose swimming because it was a non-contact sport (then fell in love with it) and one day RAMMED my head right into the side of the wall. I had such a huge bump for days (I can laugh now). I am SO sorry about your eye and infections, I really hope it heals up quickly!! In the meantime, enjoy all these brownies – they look divine! Love the red hot idea.
Oh my gosh, Jessica! I’m such a klutz, so I’d probably hit my head too! Thanks 🙂
Wow the pretty pink…lovely recipe 🙂
Thanks so much, Puja!
When I was a kid, red hots were always my favorite cookie decorating candy. I love that you’ve used them in the frosting for these brownies… YUM!
They would be perfect for cookie decorating! Thanks Kristine 🙂
I LOVE cinnamon candies! Whenever we visit the US, I always load up on cinnamon flavoured everything. These brownies look magical with that fiery pink frosting!
Thanks Jess! Cinnamon treats are the best 😉
Ear infections are the worst. I never put my head under because I can guarantee it’ll happen. LOVE this frosting – Red Hots are a favorite!
It’s such a bummer, Dorothy. Thank you 🙂
I love the texture of these brownies! And the red cinnamon frosting is so unique – cinnamon and brownie is an unusual combination, and I bet it tastes delicious!
These were amazing, Melanie. Thank you 🙂
Oh man, ear infections are the WORST!!! I hope your ears are feeling better, girlie!! Hope you ate lots and lots of these brownies to help aid in the healing process… because brownies can make everything better. Right? 😉 LOVE these! The red hot frosting is all sorts of delicious! And that color though! Gah! LOVE IT! Cheers!
Brownies do make everything better! Thank you, Cheyanne!
This is pretty much genius! I love the cinnamon hearts, and bet they are wonderful with chocolate brownies 🙂
Thanks Denise! They make a delicious combo!
Pretty in pink,how festive!
Thanks John! Rock on 😉
Wow, I am loving that color! What a great idea to use cinnamon red hots to make frosting…not to mention, what a great idea to use pumpkin in brownies – I bet they’re super moist!
They are! Thank you 🙂
WOW! I love love love the color! It looks incredibly tasty! love the idea for the frosting flavor! Pure perfection!
Thanks so much, Marcela!