Chocolate Mini-loaves

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup unsweetened dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chipotle powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Recipe

• 1 position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees f. generously spray the inside of a mini-loaf baking pan with the cooking spray and set aside.
• 2 put the butter, coffee, cocoa and milk in a small microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high until the butter melts, about 3 minutes. whisk to combine.
• 3 whisk the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, chile powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. beat the sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a small bowl. whisk the hot cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients; stir in the sour cream mixture, until just combined. divide the batter equally among the loaves, filling each about 3/4 of the way. bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. allow the loaves to cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. run a knife around each loaf to loosen, remove the loaves and let cool completely on a rack.
• 4 to serve, dust the tops of the loaves with confectioners’ sugar. if you like, cut out small hearts or other festive stencils and place them on the loaves before dusting.