Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and granulated sugar. Whisk them together until well combined and the mixture is smooth and glossy.1 cup unsalted butter, melted, 2 cups granulated sugar
- Add the four large eggs, one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition until fully incorporated. Next, stir in the vanilla extract.4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are evenly distributed before adding them to the wet.1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want to avoid developing the gluten too much, which can lead to tough brownies. A few streaks of flour are perfectly fine at this stage.
- Gently fold in 1 cup of the Valentine's Day M&M's into the brownie batter. Reserve the remaining ½ cup of M&M's for topping the brownies.1 ½ cups Valentine's Day M&M's (red, pink, and white), divided
- Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the reserved ½ cup of M&M's over the top of the batter. Gently press them into the surface of the batter so they adhere during baking.1 ½ cups Valentine's Day M&M's (red, pink, and white), divided
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (not wet batter). The edges should look set.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the brownies out of the pan, then cut them into squares.
Notes
Cooled brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate your brownies in an airtight container for up to a week. To freeze, wrap individual brownies tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
