M&M’s Brownies

Happy heart day friends! If you are in the mood for chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate {raises both hands}, you’ve come to the right place. Forget about that triple layer chocolate lover’s cake you didn’t have time to make this year. No one will complain once they sink their teeth into one of these decadently delicious chewy fudge brownies speckled with the cutest pink and red Valentine’s M&M’s. I’ve got four words for you. Love at first bite!

Chocolate is my favorite indulgence and I’ll happily pass on an entire heart shaped box of chocolates for just one of these M&M’s brownies. These are not your basic brownies. They’re rich, fudgy, extra thick and perfectly chewy. Every bite is bursting with chocolate flavor and those crackly tops make my heart skip a beat. Chocolate lovers, prepare to fall head over heels in love with these brownies!

Why are these M&M’s brownies so good?

These M&M fudge brownies are are simply irresistible. Here’s why you’ll love ’em:

• Mouthwatering texture. To say these brownies are crazy delicious would be a massive understatement. They’re thick, super fudgy, perfectly chewy and oh-so-chocolatey. In a word, they are PERFECT!
• Easy to make. These brownies are easy to make whenever the craving strikes and you don’t even need to break out the stand mixer. Whip up a batch in under and hour and watch as the rave reviews roll in!
• No fancy ingredients. Just 7 simple ingredients and a handful of M&M’s stand between you and a batch of these tall, dark and decadent brownies!
• Perfect for all occasions. These pink and red speckled brownies are the perfect sweets for your sweet this Valentine’s Day. But you can swap the M&M candies throughout the year and dress up your brownies for Easter, Halloween and Christmas too!

Ingredients

These cute-as-can-be M&M brownies are the perfect sweet treat for all of the chocolate lover’s in your life. All you need is a bag of M&M chocolate candies and a handful of basic ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need…

• Flour – Just a little bit of flour is all you need for perfectly chewy fudge brownies. For the most accurate measurement, I recommend using a kitchen scale. Adding much flour will give the brownies a cakey texture.
• Cocoa powder – For a rich, deep chocolate flavor we’re using Dutch process cocoa powder. I love this one from Rodelle. Always sift the cocoa powder before adding it to the batter.
• Sugar – A combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar gives the brownies texture and sweetness.
• Eggs – 4 large eggs make these brownies extra chewy and super thick! Make sure your eggs are at room temperature for best results.
• M&M’s – A sprinkle of red, white and pink M&M’s make these fudgy brownies fun and festive. Perfect for Valentine’s Day! Swap them for any holiday M&M’s and enjoy them all year long.

How to make fudge brownies with M&M’s

Making homemade brownies is as easy as 1-2-3. Just mix the batter, add the M&M’s and bake. It’s so easy! You’ll never go back to box mix. (sorry Betty!) Follow the steps below as a guide and check out the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.

Step 1: Melt the butter, chocolate, brown sugar and granulated sugar over a double boiler. The sugars will make the mixture grainy once melted but it should be glossy. Remove from the heat and cool for 5 – 10 minutes.

Step 2: Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well between each addition. The batter will be smooth and shiny. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 3: Add the cocoa powder, salt and vanilla. Mix to combine well.

Step 4: Add the flour and use a spatula to fold the batter together until just a few streaks of flour remain.

Step 5: Transfer the batter to an 8 x 8 pan lined with parchment paper. Smooth the top with an offset spatula.

Step 6: Sprinkle the M&M’s chocolate candies evenly on top of the brownie batter. Do not press them in to the batter.

Step 7: Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted two inches from the side of the pan comes out with just a few crumb remaining. A toothpick inserted in the center should be slightly gooey. Do not over bake or the brownies will be cakey and dry instead of fudgy.

Step 8: Cool the brownies completely before slicing into squares.

Tips for the best brownies

Brownies are all about minimal effort, maximum yum! Follow these simple tips below for the best brownies every time.

• Use high quality ingredients. The best brownies are made with just a few simple ingredients which is why it’s important to use the best quality butter, chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla you can get your hands on. The quality of your ingredients can make or break your homemade brownies – go ahead and splurge!
• Do not over mix the batter. Brownie batter should only be mixed until a few streaks of flour remain. Over mixing the batter will over stimulate the glutens and leave you with a dense, flat brownie. No thank you!
• Do not over bake. The best brownies are crisp and chewy at the edges and slightly gooey in the center. Because the brownies will continue to bake as they cool, it’s important not to over bake them.
• Cool completely. This is the hardest part. You could just dive right in to the pan of warm, gooey brownies fresh from the oven and devour every last crumb in one fell swoop. Or, for picture perfect squares, allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing. Slice with a clean, sharp knife and rinse the knife with warm, soapy water and dry with clean dish cloth between each slice. There is no wrong way – you do you!

Variations

One of the best parts about this recipe is that you can sprinkle the top of the brownies with any variety of M&M’s you want. Add red, white and blue M&M’s for the 4th of July or try their pastel candies for Easter or Mother’s Day. These brownies are so good you’ll want to make them again and again. Here’s a few more ideas for topping these ultimate fudge brownies:

• Add 2/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter. Or try milk chocolate or white chocolate chips for an even sweeter taste.
• For extra crunch, add a handful of chopped nuts to the batter like walnuts or pecans. Toast them first for extra flavor.
• Take these brownies over the top by adding crushed Oreo cookies or mini peanut butter cups. You can’t go wrong!
• Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge or caramel sauce.

How to store brownies

These brownies are all kinds of crazy good and I can’t imagine you’ll have as much as a square left over. If you do, call me. I’ll be right over. {jk, jk} All kidding aside, wrap any leftovers tightly and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. Refrigerating brownies tends to dry them out, so keep them at room temp or pop them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

FAQ’s

[boxed]Happy Valentine’s Day love bugs and happy baking! xo[/boxed]

Love brownies? Try these easy and delicious recipes:

• Better Than Box Mix Chewy Fudge Brownies
• The Best Brown Butter Brownies
• S’mores Brownies Recipe
• Brownie Cookie Sandwiches with Cookie Dough Buttercream