Valentine's Day Brownies with M&M's and Chocolate Chips Recipe
These Valentine's Day Brownies are rich, fudgy, and studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and colorful M&M's on top for a festive touch. Perfectly baked to have a moist interior and slightly crisp edges, they make an irresistible treat to celebrate the holiday of love. The recipe is simple, requiring basic pantry ingredients and minimal preparation time, ensuring a delicious dessert ready in just over half an hour.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Brownie Batter
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (65 grams) all purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- 1/2 cup (45 grams) cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (95 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Topping
- 1/2 cup M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, making sure to leave some overhang to help lift the brownies out later. If using foil, spray it generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking, then set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth and combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure a well-emulsified batter. Stir in the vanilla extract until just incorporated.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt to ensure they are evenly mixed and free of lumps.
- Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, whisking gently until no streaks of flour remain and the batter is uniform. Then gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips to distribute evenly without overmixing.
- Transfer Batter and Add Topping: Pour the thick brownie batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle the M&M's evenly over the entire surface to add festive color and additional sweetness.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The brownies are done when the edges start to pull away slightly from the pan and the top looks set and no longer glossy.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, use the parchment or foil overhang to lift the brownies out and cut into 16 equal squares for serving.
Notes
- Ensure eggs are at room temperature for better batter consistency.
- Do not overbake to keep brownies moist and fudgy inside.
- Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts to create neat squares.
- Substitute M&M's with chopped nuts or other candies if preferred.
- For easier removal, chill brownies briefly before lifting out if needed.