These chocolate M&M’s Brownies are full of candy goodness. They are a great fudgy snack for any time of day. They also make great lunch box treats or after school snacks. Add a glass of milk and you are good to go.
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Last year we traded in our van for a little silver Prius. I’m not going to lie. I love that little car. It’s great on gas mileage, and it looks stylish too. No more soccer mom van for me.
Of course there are a few down falls to the little car. There are only 5 seats, and we have 5 family members. So, if the kids have friends over after school, my husband and I both have to drive in order for everyone to get to our house.
One other down fall is that in a smaller car you are lower to the ground. For whatever reason now brake lights freak me out. I noticed it when I was driving a while ago. Every time the cars in front of me brake, I panic and hit mine. That’s not something I ever used to do.
Of course the brake’s on this car are a whole lot touchier. I hit the brakes, my heart starts racing, and then I realize that the person in front of me is still going. There was no reason to get so panicked. I’m not sure what is going on with me.
And now I’m doing it with husband and son. As soon as I see the cars in front of us hit their brakes, I’m grabbing the side of the car and commenting that we should slow down. Who am I and when did I get to be an old person?
They both just look at me like I’m a freak and say they have it under control. That doesn’t stop me from doing it though. In fact, it might be getting worse.
I blame it on the little car and being so low to the ground. In the van, I was higher and didn’t feel like I would get flattened in any type of accident.
Want to know something else that makes me freak out? Brownies! Not just any brownies though…brownies loaded with M&M’s candies. Those colored chocolates have been my favorites for years!
Last year I loaded up these M&M Blonde Brownies with the fun colored candies, and they have been one of my most popular recipes. Easy, simple, and totally delicious!
That got me thinking that it would be fun to make a chocolate blonde brownie. Then I realized that is just a brownie. LOL!
I used the same recipe to make these brownies, only I gave it a dark chocolate make over! And the almond extract gave it a slightly different, but amazing flavor. Seriously, I LOVE that stuff, but if you do not care for it, please use vanilla!
Lots of of colorful candies inside and on top of the M&M’s brownies gave them such a fun flair.
Both my husband and mother-in-law said I should have left the candy off…but don’t listen to them! I’m pretty sure they are aliens, because who wouldn’t want a brownie loaded with candy?!?!?!
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These easy M&M's Brownies are loaded with plenty of colorful candies inside and on top. They are a fun treat to enjoy any time of day.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1-2 teaspoons almond extract**
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups mini M&M's candies, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and extract and beat again.
- Stir together the salt, baking powder, flour, and cocoa powder. Slowly beat into the butter mixture until combined.
- Add 1 cup mini M&M's and stir gently.
- Spoon into the prepared dish. Top with the remaining candies. Bake for 23-25 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before cutting into 24 squares. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Notes
**If you do not care for the taste of almond extract, you can use vanilla in place of it.
More easy cookie bars to make when you are craving something sweet:
- Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars from Two Peas & Their Pod
- Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars from Taste & Tell
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars from Brown Eyed Baker
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
September 23, 2015 at 3:09 PMThat opening shot of the stack of brownies is just EPIC! I’m sold! 🙂
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:37 AMThank you so much, Averie! These were so fun to take pictures of…and eat, of course. LOL
Michelle @ My California Kitchen says
September 23, 2015 at 6:52 PMYessss these look so good. I could use a few of these right about now. And definitely don’t listen to the candy-haters! Love that little crunch that M&Ms add! Yumm!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:37 AMYeah, they are crazy! How can you not like the M&M’s crunch?!?!?!
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups says
September 23, 2015 at 8:30 PMBrownies + M&Ms…the two loves of my life, together where they definitely belong!! 🙂 These are so gorgeous and delicious, I’m sure!! Can’t wait to try them out! Pinned!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:38 AMThank you so much! I have to agree with you on the brownie and M&M’s love!!! Two of my favorites too!!
Krystle says
September 23, 2015 at 11:15 PMYum these look so good! They remind me of the M&M cookies/brownies I grew up loving from the mall.
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:38 AMI hadn’t thought about it, but yes, these are just like those mall treats!
Wendy says
September 23, 2015 at 11:51 PMLittle, mini m&m’s are the BEST! For awhile they were hard to find (I even bought them by the pound at the supermarket bakery counter once when I was “desperate”!), but recently I have found them at both Target and my supermarket. 🙂 Unlike your alien relatives, I think the added crunch of m&m’s on top makes these brownies special!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:40 AMI’m glad all my blog friends realize that mini M&M’s are the way to go with brownies! And I’m so glad you can find the mini’s again!!!
Mir says
September 24, 2015 at 6:55 AMThe first time I ever drove my SUV, I felt so tall and powerful! But yeah, it’s hard to adjust back. Being skittish at first is totally normal. It’s not old lady driving yet. 🙂
These look really good. The perfect antidote for a nerve-wracking day of driving!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:40 AMBrownies all day long to help with the nerves!!! I’m good with that!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
September 24, 2015 at 6:57 AMOh do these brownies look amazing, Jocelyn! I’m in love with the rich chocolate and color M&Ms. Sounds like the perfect treat for me!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
September 24, 2015 at 8:50 AMFirst. I love these brownies!! And I’m glad you didn’t listen to family and kept those m&m’s on there. LOVE the little crunch of the candy coating with the brownies.
Second. Yes you are old and probably shouldn’t be driving, LOL!!!!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:41 AMHahaha! Yes, I am getting old…BUT I’m not as old as others I know. LOL!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
September 24, 2015 at 10:50 AMLove how rich and chocolaty these brownies look! So good!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
September 24, 2015 at 6:10 PMI love ANY treat with M&M’s. These are gorgeous!!!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:41 AMThank you!!!
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
September 25, 2015 at 1:18 AMBrownies loaded with MnMs?! These are right up my alley!
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:42 AMI had a feeling everyone would agree with me and loaded brownies!!!
Christina says
September 25, 2015 at 12:07 PMWow, these look amazing. Thanks for all of the great recipes you post.
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:42 AMThank you…and you are very welcome! I love sharing all these fun treats with my readers!
Susan says
September 29, 2015 at 8:35 PMJust made these. They are very good but next time I would only use 1 tsp of almond extract. It’s very overpowering with 2.
Jocelyn says
October 3, 2015 at 11:43 AMI’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy the almond extract. Definitely bump it down to 1 teaspoon next time, or change it out for vanilla if you like. I hope you still try them again!!!
Kayla Zachary says
August 17, 2016 at 12:20 AMHello!
I also found the almond extract overpowering, but otherwise loved these brownies! I was wondering if you would recommend an equivalent measurement of vanilla, or if 1t. would prove sufficient? Thoughts? I’m making them again this weekend for a crowd!
Thank you!
Jocelyn says
August 17, 2016 at 10:25 AMI am so sorry to hear that. One quick question…are you using pure almond extract or an imitation almond extract? That’s the only thing that I think could be making the almond flavor in this recipe not right. I absolutely loved these with the extra almond, but that’s me. You can definitely change it out and use 2 teaspoons vanilla extract instead. I hope everyone enjoys these!
Juliette says
October 24, 2016 at 9:35 AMMade these last night and they are delicious!! We used vanilla but that was just a personal preference. Thank you so much for the fantastic recipe 🙂
Jocelyn says
October 24, 2016 at 10:45 AMI am so glad to hear your family enjoyed them 🙂
Paige Caldwell says
September 12, 2017 at 12:00 PMHave you ever tried m&ms in brownies, frosting on top with starbursts on top.
Jocelyn says
September 12, 2017 at 10:00 PMThat’s not a combo I have ever tried. Not sure that I would like it either. Do you really eat this???
Vanessa says
November 17, 2017 at 9:03 AMYuck! If I knew the almond extract was going to taste so…yuck…I wouldn’t have used it. It took over the taste of the brownie and nobody in my family could eat them. It might be an alright recipe without the extract but I won’t try it again. They look amazing in the picture and even when I baked them they did; but the taste left a little something to be desired.
Jocelyn says
November 17, 2017 at 9:27 AMI’m so sorry you didn’t care for these. We love the taste of the almond extract. But yes, you could totally use vanilla extract in place of it. Sounds like you would probably like that better!
Vanessa says
November 17, 2017 at 10:10 AMI would totally try vanilla extract if I made them again! Thanks ????
Jocelyn says
November 17, 2017 at 11:15 AMThank you for the feedback on the recipe. I appreciate it, and I added a note to the recipe for future bakers. 🙂
Brenda Bruce says
March 8, 2019 at 7:54 PMOk I tried this recipe. I followed it to the letter. It was a thick crumbly dough. Is the recipe correct?
Jocelyn says
March 9, 2019 at 12:28 PMYes, the recipe is correct. You should have had a batter that resembles a brownie batter, not a crumbly dough. Are you sure you didn’t miss an ingredient? Also how soft was your butter?