Best 4th of July Patriotic Brownies

Spark up your 4th of July celebration with these easy and delicious chocolate brownies, decorated with a festive, patriotic white chocolate topping.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 428 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons water
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or as needed
• 3 drops red food coloring, or as desired
• 3 drops blue food coloring, or as desired
• 0.33333334326744 cup all-purpose flour
• 1.25 cups white sugar
• 0.66666668653488 cup unsalted butter
• 1.5 cups white chocolate chips, divided
• 3 tablespoons red and blue candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®),

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Remove brownies from the refrigerator. Spread red-colored chocolate over the top in a stripe. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon red and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces before it hardens.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper; grease parchment paper with vegetable oil.

Step 3

Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl and melt in the microwave; stir until smooth. Add sugar, cocoa powder, water, and vanilla; stir until well blended. Beat in eggs until mixture is shiny. Stir in flour quickly until thoroughly combined. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 30 minutes more.

Step 5

Place 1/2 cup white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave until melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir until well blended, smooth, and yogurt-like in consistency. Stir in red food coloring until desired shade is reached.

Step 6

Melt another 1/2 cup white chocolate chips in the microwave; stir until smooth. Stir in blue food coloring until desired shade is reached. Spread onto the top of brownies for a second stripe. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon candy-coated chocolate pieces.

Step 7

Melt remaining 1/2 white chocolate chips in the microwave. Spread onto the top of brownies for a third stripe. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon candy-coated chocolate pieces.

Step 8

Transfer brownies to the refrigerator to allow chocolate to harden, at least 30 minutes.