Best 4th of July Patriotic Brownies

Spark up your Fourth of July celebration with this easy chocolate brownie recipe, decorated with a festive, patriotic white chocolate topping — the best.

• 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

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 2

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

Step 3

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

Step 4

Place ½ cup white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 1 to 1 ½ minutes; stir until well blended, smooth, and yogurt-like in consistency. Stir in red food coloring until reaches desired shade. Spread red-colored chocolate in a stripe over top; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon red and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces before it hardens.

Step 5

Place ½ cup white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 1 to 1 ½ minutes; stir until well blended, smooth, and yogurt-like in consistency. Stir in blue food coloring until reaches desired shade. Spread blue-colored chocolate in a second stripe over top; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon candy-coated chocolate pieces.

Step 6

Place remaining ½ cup white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 1 to 1 ½ minutes; stir until well blended, smooth, and yogurt-like in consistency. Spread white chocolate in a third stripe over top; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon candy-coated chocolate pieces.

Step 7

Refrigerate brownies to allow chocolate to harden, at least 30 minutes.