Description
A recipe for fudgy chocolate brownies decorated to look like Valentine’s Day conversation hearts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup conversation heart candies (for topping)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink and red food coloring
- Black food coloring (for writing)
- Edible markers (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
- Melt the butter and chopped chocolate together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat.
- Whisk the granulated sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Do not overbake for a fudgy texture.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Prepare the icing: Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide the icing into small bowls. Color one portion pink, one portion red, and leave one portion white.
- Once cooled, cut the brownies into squares.
- Frost the top of each square with a thin layer of white icing. Let the white icing set slightly (about 10 minutes).
- Use a small offset spatula or knife to create a slightly rounded, heart-like shape on top of the white base, or simply keep the square shape.
- Pipe small messages onto the center of each brownie using the colored icing or edible markers, mimicking conversation heart text (e.g., ‘XOXO’, ‘B MINE’).
- Garnish the edges or sprinkle the tops with whole conversation heart candies before the icing fully sets.
Notes
- For a richer chocolate flavor, use high-quality baking chocolate.
- If you do not have edible markers, use a very fine piping tip (size 1 or 0) with black royal icing for writing the messages.
- Chill the brownies for 30 minutes after decorating for the icing to firm up before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie square
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 36
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 55