Chocolate lovers do I have the recipe for you! Say hello to these incredibly fudgy, chocolate frosted M&M brownies. Basically, they are chocolate heaven. These brownies are a perfect replica of the beloved Ghirardelli boxed brownies we all grew up loving. If you’re interested in plain brownies without frosting, check out the original version here. These are made in 1 bowl and the frosting comes together in 2 minutes. If you’re looking to make an incredibly easy, incredibly delicious dessert, you have to try this recipe 🙂
Bake time and what type of pan you use are essential to nailling the perfect brownie. I know people can be very particular about their brownies so let me start by saying my preference is fudgy, and that’s how I designed these brownies to be. If you prefer cakey brownies bake for an additional 5-8 minutes. They’ll still be delicious and more cake like 🙂 When it comes to pans, you’ll want to use a 8×12 or 9×11 metal baking pan. Metal pans make the best cakes and brownies because they cook evenly throughout for the perfect bake every time. In general, unless a recipe specifically calls for a glass pan you are typically going to want to use metal.
I love this recipe because the M&M’s really make these fun and give them a pop of color and texture. For the actual brownie I use a mix of semi-sweet chocolate chips and normal M&Ms. For the topping I prefer to use mini M&Ms because they’re cute and easier to eat in bites. If you want to buy one type, use the normal size and the brownies will still turn out amazing!
These brownies are to die for, they are absolute chocolate heaven! If you make them please let me know how you liked them by rating and leaving a comment!
Chocolate Fudge M&M Brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 1 cup salted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cocoa powder I use Ghirardelli
- ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate chips I use Ghirardelli. You can also use semi-sweet if you prefer!
- ½ cup M&Ms
For the frosting:
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 1 cup mini M&Ms you can use normal M&M's too!
Instructions
For the brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 350° and grease and line a 8×12 or 9×11 baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl combine melted butter, oil, granulated and brown sugar. Whisk to combine. Add in vanilla and eggs and beat for 30 seconds, until the batter becomes a lighter brown.
- Sift in flour, cocoa powder and salt. Mix lightly until just combined. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until the center no longer jiggles. If you want fudgy brownies, do not over bake! If you prefer cakey brownies, bake for 5-8 minutes longer. Remove from the over and let cool completely before frosting. Once the brownies are cooled, make the frosting.
For the frosting:
- In a large bowl combine the melted butter, cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Beat together with a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer) until smooth. Sift the powdered sugar and add to the bowl slowly until incorporated. Beat on medium speed until frosting is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add in 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Spread immediately on the cooled brownies and sprinkle on the remaining M&Ms. Enjoy!
Laura Simon
This is my childhood dreams coming to real life in one picture!! I stumbled upon this blog because I was looking for a knock off cosmic brownie recipe and it came up on my Instagram. We were throwing a 90s party and I thought they would add some nostalgia. Everyone loved them and they were even better than the original since they gave the homemade touch!