These dense, fudgy brownies are loaded with candy bar pieces, making them supremely decadent. They’re as fast and easy as a boxed mix, and everything is whisked together in one bowl. I used a variety of fun-size and mini candy bars that were cluttering my pantry. Use the recipe as an excuse to thin our your baking odds-and-ends or the candy accumulated from various holidays. With Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter candy, there’s never a shortage of candy and these bbrownies help thin the stash. Rich, moist, very chocolaty, easy, and ready in a half hour.
2tablespoonsbrewed coffeeleftover from the morning brew is fine, optional but recommend to enhance chocolate flavor and does not make brownies taste like coffee
1teaspooninstant espresso coffee granulesoptional but recommend to enhance chocolate flavor and does not make brownies taste like coffee
¼teaspoonsaltoptional and to taste
½cupall-purpose flour
about 12 to 15 fun-size candy barsdiced in half if it’s larger like a Twix (I used Butterfinger, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Snickers, Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nestle Crunch, Twix)
½cupsemi-sweet chocolate chipsfor topping
⅓cupM&M’s for toppingoptional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil leaving overhang on the sides, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
In a large, microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute. Allow butter to cool momentarily so you don’t scramble the eggs.
Add the eggs, sugars, optional coffee, vanilla, and whisk to combine.
Add the cocoa powder, optional espresso granules, optional salt, and whisk to combine. If your cocoa powder is lumpy, it could take a couple minutes of vigorous whisking.
Add the flour and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
Turn two-thirds of the batter out into prepared pan, reserving the remaining one-third; just eyeball it. The reserved amount should be about 1 1/2 cups; set reserved portion aside.
Place candy bar pieces onto batter, distributed evenly, in an even, flat layer. I made 5 rows with about 5 pieces candy per row.
Top with reserved batter to cover candy. Gently smooth and distribute batter with a spatula or knife
Evenly sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.
Evenly sprinkle the optional M&M’s over the top.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until done; don’t overbake. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean, but will likely have a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Allow brownies to cool in pan for about 1 hour before lifting out with foil overhang and slicing.
Brownies will keep airtight at room temperature or refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months. I prefer to store them in the fridge and serve them slightly chilled.