School Colors Brownies: Festive & Fudgy Treats for Every Occasion
The inspiration for these delightful School Colors Round Brownies came from a special milestone: my daughter’s first day of high school. It’s truly incredible how quickly time flies; it feels like just yesterday when I first started this blog, and Fuzz was only about five years old! While many things have changed since then, my obsession with creating delicious brownies remains unwavering. This time, I was inspired to craft some visually appealing round brownies adorned with vibrant blue and orange M&Ms, perfect for celebrating new beginnings and showing a little school spirit.
Creative Baking: Cookie Cutter Brownies and Delicious Scraps
Creating these perfectly round brownies is a fun and simple process that yields impressive results. Instead of baking in individual molds, I chose to bake a large batch in a standard square pan and then use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to punch out neat, uniform circles. This method not only ensures consistent shapes but also offers a delightful fringe benefit: plenty of brownie scraps! Far from being a waste, these rich, fudgy trimmings are a bonus treat for the baker (or anyone lucky enough to be in the kitchen). They’re perfect for snacking, adding to ice cream, or simply enjoying as an extra indulgence.
For those who prefer a zero-waste approach or want to bake individual portions directly, you can certainly invest in Kitchen Supply Crumbcake Paper Molds. These molds allow you to bake your brownies directly into round shapes, reducing scraps significantly. Whether this is a “good” or “bad” thing depends entirely on your stance on extra brownie bites!
Smart Tip: Repurposing Brownie Scraps
Over the years, I’ve discovered a fantastic trick for using up those brownie scraps. Don’t let them go to waste! You can easily dry brownie scraps in a 250-degree Fahrenheit oven for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. This transforms them into crisp, chewy brownie bits that are wonderful for sprinkling over yogurt, ice cream, or even incorporating into other baked goods for added texture and chocolatey flavor. It’s a simple way to ensure every single morsel of your delicious homemade brownies gets enjoyed.
The Foundation of Flavor: Alice Medrich’s Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
While I might not make round brownies every day, the core recipe for these School Colors Brownies is one I return to again and again. It’s adapted from the renowned Alice Medrich’s Cocoa Brownies, a recipe celebrated for its exceptional fudgy texture and rich chocolate flavor. If you’re looking for truly decadent, moist brownies that bake perfectly in an 8-inch pan, this is the recipe you need. It consistently delivers the kind of dense, chewy, and intensely chocolatey brownie that serious dessert lovers crave. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and reliability, making it an excellent base for any brownie creation, especially when you plan on using cookie cutters for fun shapes.
Why Alice Medrich’s Recipe Stands Out
Alice Medrich is a master of chocolate and baking, and her cocoa brownie recipe is a testament to her expertise. What makes it so special? It’s the perfect balance of ingredients and a specific method that ensures maximum fudginess without being overly cakey. The key often lies in the ratio of butter, sugar, and cocoa, and the minimal amount of flour, which contributes to that desirable dense, chewy texture. Furthermore, the quality of your cocoa powder truly makes a difference here. As I’ve learned over years of baking, a high-quality unsweetened cocoa, whether natural or Dutch-process, will elevate the brownies from good to absolutely phenomenal, imparting a deep, complex chocolate taste that shines through.
Baking brownies that are fudgy, rich, and utterly irresistible is a rewarding experience. This adapted Alice Medrich recipe provides a robust foundation for our festive school colors brownies, ensuring that beneath the vibrant M&M coating lies a truly delicious chocolate treat. It’s a recipe that works beautifully for various modifications, allowing you to personalize your brownies for any theme or occasion while maintaining that essential fudgy core.
If you enjoy classic, comforting baked goods, you might also like some of these other tried-and-true recipes:
- A Tale of Two Yellow Cupcakes
- Six Inch Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- Peanut Butter Coconut Krispie Cookies
- Favorite M&M Bars
- Jumbo M&M Cookies
Recipe
School Colors Brownies
Cookie Madness
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (140 grams), softened
- 1 ¼ cups sugar (245 grams)
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder natural or Dutch-process
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cold large eggs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (70 grams)
- Mini M&Ms
- 1 good quality dark chocolate bar chopped
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325. Line an 8 inch square metal baking pan with foil and grease the bottom only.
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Combine the softened butter, sugar, cocoa and salt in a metal mixing bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir until butter melts and mixture is fairly smooth and the sugar has partially dissolved — mixture will still be slightly grainy. Remove from heat and let it cool to warm.
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Stir in the vanilla, then add the eggs one at a time and stir after each egg is added.
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Add the flour and stir until it disappears, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with a heavy duty scraper.
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Spread mixture evenly in the pan and bake at 325 for about 25 minutes or until brownies appear set. Let cool completely, then chill thoroughly.
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Time for the fun part! Lift the brownies from the pan and cut into shapes using metal cookie cutters or whatever type cutter you have.
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Melt chocolate in microwave using 50% power and stirring often until it is melted and smooth. Spread a very thin layer of chocolate on top of each brownie, then pile on some M&Ms. Drizzle more chocolate over M&Ms. Let the brownies sit until chocolate sets. Do not chill after adding M&Ms as they will lose their luster.
Decorating Your Brownies with Vibrant M&Ms
Once your fudgy brownies are baked, cooled, and cut into perfect rounds, the real fun begins: decorating! This is where you can truly bring the “school colors” theme to life, or adapt it for any celebration you have in mind. For my daughter’s high school, blue and orange M&Ms were the perfect choice, but feel free to select colors that match your specific team, holiday, or party theme. Mini M&Ms are ideal for this as they fit neatly on the round brownie tops and offer a delicate crunch, but regular M&Ms work just as well for a bolder statement.
The decorating process involves two simple steps that yield a professional-looking finish. First, melt a good quality dark chocolate bar until smooth and glossy. A double boiler or careful microwaving at 50% power, with frequent stirring, will achieve the best results. Then, spread a very thin layer of this melted chocolate over the top of each brownie round. This chocolate layer serves as a delicious adhesive for your M&Ms and adds an extra layer of chocolatey goodness. Next, generously pile your chosen M&Ms onto the chocolate-coated brownies. Don’t be shy – a vibrant mound of candies looks fantastic!
Achieving That Perfect Drizzle and Shine
To really make your school colors brownies pop, drizzle a little more melted chocolate over the M&Ms. This technique not only helps to secure the candies even further but also adds an appealing visual texture and another touch of rich chocolate. Allow the brownies to sit at room temperature until the chocolate sets completely. It’s crucial not to chill the brownies after adding the M&Ms, as the cold can cause the candies to lose their signature sheen and bright colors. Patience is key here for beautifully set and vibrant brownies.
These decorated brownie rounds are not just delicious; they are incredibly eye-catching and make wonderful gifts or party favors. Imagine a platter of these colorful treats at a bake sale, a game day gathering, or a graduation party! The combination of the rich, fudgy brownie base with the crisp, candy-coated chocolate of the M&Ms creates a delightful textural and flavor experience that everyone will love.
Tips for Brownie Success and Creative Variations
To ensure your School Colors Brownies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few additional tips. Always measure your ingredients accurately, especially the flour and cocoa, as slight variations can affect the texture. Using cold eggs as specified in the Alice Medrich recipe contributes to the fudgy consistency. Don’t overbake your brownies; they should still be slightly moist in the center when removed from the oven, as they will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking is the quickest way to end up with dry, cakey brownies instead of the desired fudgy texture.
Beyond School Colors: Customizing Your Brownies
The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. While “school colors” are a fantastic theme, you can easily adapt these brownies for any occasion:
- Holidays: Use red and green M&Ms for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or orange and black for Halloween.
- Team Spirit: Match the M&M colors to your favorite sports team for game day snacks.
- Birthday Parties: Use a mix of bright, celebratory M&Ms or sprinkles to complement a party theme.
- Seasonal Delights: Consider adding a pinch of peppermint extract with red and white M&Ms for a winter treat, or a touch of orange zest with orange M&Ms for a summer vibe.
- Nutty Additions: Before baking, fold in a handful of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.
- Different Toppings: If M&Ms aren’t your preference, try other small candies, chopped candy bars, or even a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
Proper storage is also important. Store these brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and fudgy texture. If you need to stack them, place parchment paper between layers to prevent the chocolate and M&Ms from sticking.
A Sweet Conclusion to Any Day
These School Colors Brownies are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration of milestones, traditions, and the simple joy of baking. Whether you’re sending your child off to school, cheering on your favorite team, or simply indulging in a homemade treat, these fudgy, colorful brownies are sure to bring smiles. With the reliable foundation of Alice Medrich’s classic recipe and the fun of personalized decoration, you’ll create a memorable dessert that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat. Gather your ingredients, choose your colors, and get ready to bake some happiness!