Recipe Ingredients:

Red Velvet Brownies:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp red food coloring
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 pkg (1 1/2 oz each) Milk Chocolate M&M’S Valentine’s Day Mix, divided

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 6 oz brick-style plain cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

1. Red Velvet Brownies: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 13- x 9-inch pan with enough parchment paper to overhang edges; set aside. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in heatproof bowl set over pot of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar; let cool slightly.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well to incorporate after each addition. Stir in red food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in half of the M&MS.
4. Scrape into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until only a few moist crumbs adhere to toothpick when inserted into center of brownie. Let cool completely on rack.
5. Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy; beat in butter until blended. On low speed, beat in icing sugar and vanilla extract until smooth.
6. Using parchment paper as handles, transfer brownie to cutting board and remove parchment paper. Spread frosting over top. Using 2.5-inch heart cookie cutter, cut out 12 hearts (reserve brownie scraps for another use). Sprinkle with remaining M&M’S.

Tips:

• Substitute buttercream frosting for cream cheese frosting if desired.
• Chop any remaining brownie scraps to make a Valentine’s Day ice cream sundae with strawberry ice cream, dollop of whipped cream, freshly sliced strawberries and Milk Chocolate M&M’S Valentine’s Day Mix.

Nutrition Facts Per 1 brownie

• Calories 250
• Fat 14g
• Saturated Fat 9g
• Cholesterol 60mg
• Sodium 130mg
• Carbohydrate 29g
• Fiber 1g
• Sugars 24g
• Protein 3g