Fudgey Patriotic Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, cubed
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 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
- 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.
- Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- 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.
- 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. Yield: 2 dozen.
