Description
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Serves: 16 bars
The ultimate patriotic dessert! Rich, fudgy brownies topped with vibrant red, white, and blue frosting and sparkling star decorations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Brownies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
For the Patriotic Frosting:
- 2½ cups heavy cream or prepared buttercream
- Red gel food coloring
- Blue gel food coloring
- white star-shaped candies
Instructions
- Prepare for baking: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal. Lightly grease the parchment.
- Make the brownie batter: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in both sugars until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix. Fold in chocolate chips if using.
- Bake the brownies: Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours.
- Prepare the patriotic frosting: Divide frosting into three equal portions. Leave one portion white, tint one red and one blue with gel food coloring. Transfer each color to a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Decorate: Cut cooled brownies into rectangles. Pipe decorative swirls or stars using the three frosting colors, creating a patriotic pattern. Sprinkle with star-shaped candies while frosting is still soft.
- Serve: Store decorated brownies in refrigerator until ready to serve. Bring to room temperature for best texture contrast.
Notes
- For best results, use gel food coloring rather than liquid coloring to maintain frosting consistency
- Brownies can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored covered at room temperature before decorating
- Star candies can be found in the seasonal baking section or ordered online
- These freeze well for up to one month when properly wrapped