These American Flag Brownies are an easy way to dress up a pan of homemade brownies for the 4th of July.
Decorated with powdered sugar, fresh blueberries, and simple red icing, they look festive enough for holiday cookouts while requiring very little decorating skill.
Whether you're heading to a backyard barbecue, neighborhood picnic, or family celebration, this easy dessert is as fun to make as it is to serve.
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Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Need Help Planning Dinner?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Storage & Serving Tips
- Recipe FAQ's
- More Red, White and Blue Desserts to Try
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
- Food Safety Tips
- 💬 Comments
Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 15 min | Cook/Bake: 28-32 min + 15 min decorating | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 9 brownies
Main Ingredients: Butter, cocoa powder, flour, eggs, blueberries, powdered sugar
Why You'll Love It: Rich, fudgy brownies are decorated with powdered sugar, fresh blueberries, and red icing to create a festive American flag design that's easy to make.
Best For: 4th of July parties, Memorial Day, Labor Day, backyard barbecues, potlucks, and patriotic celebrations.
Equipment Needed: 8X10 Baking Pan
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Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
Use a brownie mix: Short on time? Bake your favorite boxed brownie mix in a 8X10 inch pan, then decorate once the brownies have cooled.
Swap the icing: Instead of making your own, use a tube of red decorating icing for quick and easy stripes.
Make them extra festive: Add red, white, and blue sprinkles around the edges before serving for even more patriotic flair.
Make Them Even Easier: If you'd rather skip piping the flag design, try my Easy Patriotic Homemade Brownies decorated with festive red, white and blue candies for another simple 4th of July dessert.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section provides step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the melted butter with both sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder, then gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
Step 2: Spread the batter evenly into a parchment-lined 8 x 10-inch baking pan and smooth the top. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely before cutting into rectangles.
Step 3: Dust each brownie with powdered sugar. Pipe red icing across the brownies to create the flag stripes, then place 3 to 4 fresh blueberries in the upper left corner for the stars. Let the icing set for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO use a small piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off for smoother, more even red stripes.
❌ DO NOT overmix the brownie batter once the dry ingredients are added, or the brownies may not have their best texture.
Storage & Serving Tips
Refrigerate: Store the brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If possible, add the fresh blueberries just before serving for the best appearance.
Freezer: Freeze the undecorated brownies by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Decorate after thawing for the freshest results.
Thaw: Transfer the brownies to the refrigerator overnight or let them sit at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Decorate with powdered sugar, blueberries, and red icing just before serving.
Serving Tips: Arrange the brownies on a white platter to highlight the American flag design. If desired, garnish the serving tray with extra fresh blueberries for a festive presentation.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes! If you're short on time, prepare your favorite boxed brownie mix according to the package directions. Once the brownies have cooled completely, decorate them with powdered sugar, red icing, and fresh blueberries.
Yes. Bake the brownies up to two days in advance and store them in an airtight container. Decorate them the day you plan to serve them for the freshest appearance.
Fresh blueberries work best because frozen berries release moisture as they thaw, which can stain the powdered sugar and soften the decoration.
American Flag Brownies are homemade chocolate brownies decorated with powdered sugar, red icing, and fresh blueberries to resemble the American flag. They're a festive dessert for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and other patriotic celebrations.
More Red, White and Blue Desserts to Try
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🗒️Shopping List
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📖 Recipe Card
American Flag Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the melted butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and whisk until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow the brownies to cool completely before decorating.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Stir in a few drops of red food coloring until you reach the desired shade of red.
- Dust the cooled brownies with powdered sugar. Pipe the red icing across each brownie to create flag stripes, then place 3 to 4 fresh blueberries in the upper left corner to resemble the stars.
- Let the icing set for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips:
- Let the brownies cool completely before decorating so the powdered sugar and icing stay in place.
- Use fresh blueberries for the best appearance and to keep the powdered sugar from becoming wet.
- A small piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off makes it easy to pipe neat, even stripes.
Storage & Make Ahead:
- Store the decorated brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For the freshest presentation, bake the brownies a day ahead and decorate them before serving.
- Undecorated brownies can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw completely before decorating.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
This beautifully designed digital cookbook features 10 fun and festive dessert recipes perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any red, white, and blue celebration.
Food Safety Tips
- Cook foods to a safe internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) when applicable.
- Use separate utensils for raw and cooked ingredients.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling uncooked foods.
- Avoid leaving food at room temperature for extended periods.
- Stay nearby while food is cooking.
- Use cooking oils suited for higher-heat cooking.
- Ensure proper airflow when using a gas stove.
- More kitchen safety guidance is available at USDA.gov.
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