Fudgy Patriotic Brownies

Total Time Prep: 25 min. Bake: 35 min. + cooling
Yield 2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
A rich chocolate frosting makes these brownies really tasty. I always come home with an empty pan when I take these to potlucks. —Julie Moyer, Union Grove, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, cubed
  • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • FROSTING:
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Red, white and blue decorating icing

Directions

  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Combine flour and salt; stir into chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in pecans.
  2. Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
  3. For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla until blended.
  4. Frost brownies; score into 24 bars. Using a small star-shaped cookie cutter, lightly press a star outline in the center of each brownie. Outline stars with red, white and blue icing.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 292 calories, 15g fat (7g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 158mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (31g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

A rich chocolate frosting makes these brownies really tasty. I always come home with an empty pan when I take these to potlucks. —Julie Moyer, Union Grove, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

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