Brownie Heart Cutouts

Brownie Heart Cutouts

This is as simple as it gets, but those are the best recipes sometimes!

A lot of people make adorable sugar cookies iced beautifully for holidays, but I prefer a brownie to a cookie. So why not do these cutouts instead? Plus, you can eat all the brownie scraps that are leftover from the heart cutouts. It’s a perfect snack!

Has anyone else thought about how ironic it is that a month dedicated to eating healthfully is followed by a month all about chocolate? But hey, I’m not complaining.

Brownie Heart Cutouts

There are much better sources for complaint at my local grocery store. Lines that are too long at checkout. Snow that doesn’t get cleared properly from the parking lot. People who bring more than 10 items into the express lane. People who leave their carts in parking spaces instead of returning them. Food products on the shelf for sale at half-price that are actually expired. Is that even legal?

How about we take some action and change things? One day Kenny got so exasperated at the expired cheese being sold that he threw it all into a box lying on the ground and gave it to the store manager. But that’s the only form of resistance I’ve seen.

Brownie Heart Cutouts

How many of you have schooled someone in the express lane with too many items? If you have, tell me. And has anyone ever caught anyone else in the act of leaving a cart in a parking lot? That is such a pet peeve of mine!

What are your grocery store pet peeves? I want to know!

Brownie Heart Cutouts

At least the stores have food, which we can use to bake lovely brownie heart cutouts. They’re a snap to make and a huge success, especially with kids. You can even make them with kids. I used my trusty brownie base, but you can also use a mix. It’s simple!

Brownie Heart Cutouts

While you’re out there hassling with pet peeves, just look forward to the food you’re coming home to.Β And if you see grocery store injustice, fight back!

 

Brownie Heart Cutouts

Ingredients

Brownies
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tablespoon salt
Frosting
one container store-bought vanilla frosting
red gel food coloring
pink sugar sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in the microwave and then stir in the cocoa until it dissolves completely. Add the sugar and stir until combined. Then, add the eggs and vanilla, and stir again until the mixture is smooth. Finally, add the salt and flour and mix again.
  3. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until the brownies are set. Cool completely.
  4. When the brownies are cool, mix the red gel food coloring into the vanilla frosting until your desired shade of pink comes forth.
  5. Using a heart cookie cutter, cut out the heart shapes and place the hearts onto a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Frost the brownie cutouts and add sprinkles.
  6. Allow the frosting to set. Store covered.
http://justaboutbaked.com/brownie-heart-cutouts/

 

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 24 Comments

  1. Michele @ Alwayzbakin

    These look great to make with kids! And what’s better than brownies with frosting? Not a whole lot!
    Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Valentine Slice and Bake Sugar CookiesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      SO easy to make with kids!

  2. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    Okay, these are preferable to me over ANY other cookie or dessert, seriously. And a gazillion times better than store bought!!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Easy Chocolate Creme Brulee for 2My Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep, pretty much! I’m not that into pretty cookies. Not as tasty as the other stuff!

  3. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    Brownies are always my preferred form of dessert. My supermarket pet peeve is the terribly catchy (and annoying) jingle they play over the loudspeaker way too many times during their semi-annual “can-can sale”. The sales are great, but the jingle played on loop for an hour drives me up a wall. I put music or a podcast on, pop in my earbuds, and I only hear what I want to hear! These brownies look so chocolatey and delicious!!
    Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss recently posted…21 Day Fix Final Week and ResultsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thank heaven I have never heard that jingle. I’d lose it!

  4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    Why have I never thought of this?! Such a great idea, Mir! I would love to eat a brownie cutout over a sugar cookie any day! Love the pretty frosting, too!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…30 Minute Thursday: Baked Ham and Cheese Roll-UpsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Gayle! They’re a lot better than cookies!

  5. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    I hate it when people leave the cart in the middle of the parking lot. How lazy do they have to be? I glare at people that do it haha.
    It is always brownies over cookies for me and these look so good that I could eat them through the screen.
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta by DannyUK.comMy Profile

    1. Mir

      And it cuts off parking spaces. So rude!

  6. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks

    Well, since you asked, I can’t stand the people who drive constantly around the parking lot looking for the closest spot and block everyone else while they wait for someone to pull out. I have also seen the cart situation and have called people out on it. Oh the list goes on and on….. Let’s forget about that and talk about these brownies! Whoa, yo! I LOVE that pink frosting!

    1. Mir

      I know. Like vultures, right? Aaaaaah.

  7. Shashi at RunninSrilankan

    Wait – you have a whole month of chocolate? I guess I need to reconsider my single status as I usually wait until the day after V-day when all the chocolate is one sale to get my chocolate fix πŸ™‚
    BTW, Mir – I LOVE the idea behind these cutouts – eating brownie BEFORE Vday could actually make me celebrate Vday after all! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
    Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Sweet Potato Pistachio BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      No, I buy it for myself, Shashi! My husband hates Valentine’s!

  8. Gingi

    Those are so cute.. and simple!!! Love the dark and bright pink contrast! YUM! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

    1. Mir

      Thanks, chica! I’m all about pink frosting.

  9. Amy@Frugale.org

    Perfect for making with young Chefs at home, Rally nice!
    Amy@Frugale.org recently posted…Homemade Chicken and OystersMy Profile

    1. Mir

      They had a great time!

  10. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    Give me a brownie over a cookie ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. It’s totally worth battling the supermarket for. πŸ™‚
    Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Super Bowl Menu!My Profile

    1. Mir

      Absolutely. Brownies rule!

  11. Trish - Mom On Timeout

    Oh MY. I think I know what I want for my Valentine’s Day treat! Brownies are the ULTIMATE chocolate treat in my opinion. And with frosting? I’m all in!

    1. Mir

      Yes. Back to basics every time with brownies!

  12. Mary Frances

    Brownie with frosting over cookies any day!! These brownies look so good. I love it πŸ™‚

    1. Mir

      Yeah, brownies totally win without any effort. Thanks!

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