Nothing beats a classic chocolate chip cookie, but mix-ins can take the flavor to another level. If you've ever tried them with chopped nuts or even potato chips, you know that the combo of sweet and salty works great in a cookie — but what about sweet and spicy?

You can add cinnamon to make a snickerdoodle chocolate chip cookie hybrid, but there's another spice that'll create an even more interesting flavor combination. It’s one that might surprise you, and just ¼ teaspoon per dozen cookies is all it takes.

According to a 2017 issue of Martha Stewart Living, that spice is cayenne pepper. Chocolate naturally has nutty, earthy, citrusy, fruity, and floral notes, and cayenne brings out these different notes and gives you complexity instead of just heat.