Mexican Brownie

A “Mexican brownie” is a chocolate brownie. There is no standard recipe for a “Mexican brownie” and some food authors (see the 1997 citation below) question if there really is such a thing as a “Mexican” brownie.
   
Mexican brownie recipes usually include cinnamon, often with vanilla ice cream as a topping. “Mexican brownie” is cited in print since 1988.
 
   
16 October 1988, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Shane-A New Kind of Spaghetti Western Your Wait for a Table Is Time Well Spent” by Ruth Reichl, Calendar section, pg. 103:
The Mexican brownie, which comes in slices with ice cream on the side, is a little bit dry.
 
24 April 1992, Los Angeles (CA) Times, ‘Restaurant Review: Hidden Eatery Makes Most of Its Spago Ties” by Max Jacobson, Caldenar-part F, pg. 25A:
For dessert, I taste a dense, fudgy, coffee-flavored Mexican brownie and an average tarte tatin, before diving into a sumptuous banana split,...
     
Google Books
Frommer’s City: Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque 1995
By Lisa Legarde
New York, NY: Prentice Hall Press
1995
Pg. 97:
For dessert, try the Mexican brownies, the flan, or the fried ice cream.
 
Epicurious.com
Mexican Brownies
Bon Appétit | August 1996
The traditional Mexican flavor combination of cinnamon and chocolate is enhanced by a brown sugar topping.
 
Google Books
Vegetarian Planet:
350 big-flavor recipes for out-of-this-world food every day
By Didi Emmons
Boston, MA: Harvard Common Press
1997
Pg. 504:
Mexican Brownies 
Is there really such a thing as a Mexican brownie? I doubt it. I was trying one day to create a cookie with the Mexican flavors of chocolate, cinnamon, and almonds. I ended up with a brownie—of a delightfully different sort. These are a little more gooey than your average brownie, but if you let them cool for an hour they’ll firm up. Their flavor and texture practically demand whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top or on the side.
       
25 June 1997, Alton (IL) Telegraph, pg. B3, col. 6:
Mexican Brownies
6 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup unbleached white flour
Pinch of salt
2 whole eggs
2 egg whites
1 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pine nuts…
 
Google Books
Frommer’s Portable New York City 2005
By Brian Silverman
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
2005
Pg. 85:
Even the desserts, like the Mexican brownie with pecan graham crust and cinnamon ice cream, and the cocktails, like “Johnny’s Mommy,” a mix of Jack Daniels with ginger beer, reflect this unusual fusion.
 
Google Books
Brownies! Good Housekeeping Favorite Recipes
By The Editors of Good Housekeeping
Hearst Publishing
2006
Pg. 34:
Mexican Brownies
These luscious brownies made with cocoa have a hint of cinnamon and are topped with a creamy coffee-accented frosting.
   
Dishola
Mexican Brownie
Cantina Laredo
201 W 3rd St
Austin, TX
(512) 542-9670
bighousepink on 12/27/07
Score 9
When this huge pecan brownie is brought to your table on a platter sizzling with melting Mexican Brandy Butter and topped with a huge scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream, it will soon start to arrive at tables around you, you watch… It is contagious and delicious! Share this decadent and amazing dish and believe me when I say it is worth the calories!
   
Lindsay’s Kitchen
9.13.2009
Mexican Brownies
(...)
Mexican Brownies
adapted from Aaron Sanchez in Food Network Magazine (October 2009)
2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder