Triple Chocolate Brownies with a Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing

By bakeaholic

These brownies are not your usual brownies. The cream cheese icing works wonders with the triple chocolate brownies.

Ingredients

• For brownies:
• 1 tsp. plus 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
• 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 2 ounces milk chocolate
• 2 ounces white chocolate
• For icing:
• 1 lb. confectioner's sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 lb. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp. milk

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 17 x 12 inch baking pan with 1 tsp. of the shortening.
2. In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 1 cup shortening. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
3. In a mixing bowl, add the sugar and the shortening, blend. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition. Add the water and vanilla and whisk well. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt and stir to blend. Fold in the pecans and chopped chocolate, then spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
4. Bake until the cake springs back when touched, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 30 minutes.
5.Sift together the confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the cream cheese. Beat on medium until smooth. Add the milk and sugar mixture, beat on low until incorporated and then increase the speed to medium-high and continue to beat until smooth.
6. Spread over the brownies and serve.