Valentine’s Day Marshmallow Brownies

Seems like these days Valentine’s Day is more about the kids than it is about us. That’s okay by me – I’ve never been much of a romantic anyway, and Valentine’s Day just seems like “amateur night”–an excuse to go out on a date and make Hallmark happy by buying a card.

Despite the fact that I know I sound like a curmudgeon, it’s still fun to make the kids happy. I remember Valentine’s Day as an elementary schooler: picking out just the right Valentine’s for my class (did I pick the right one??!!), painstakingly signing each one, making a paper bag Valentine holder and those awesome candy hearts.

So, yeah. Valentine’s Day is fun when you have a first-grader in the house. They appreciate kitsch and fanfare, and give an excuse to geek out with the crafts.

Not that I’m crafty, but I love me some Pinterest-gazing.

Speaking of geeking out on crafts, here’s a little treat I plan to include in my first grader’s lunch Valentine’s week. Simple, delicious, chocolatey – what’s not to love?

Valentine’s Day Marshmallow Brownies

Prep: 10 minutes; Bake: 35 minutes; Yields: 9 big brownies

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix (your favorite – I used dark chocolate)
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 9 large marshmallow hearts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×9″ glass baking pan with butter and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the brownie mix, egg, canola oil and water. Stir the batter until it’s well mixed, about 50 strokes with a wooden spoon. Pour into the 9×9″ pan, and use the wooden spoon to smooth out the surface.

Place each of the 9 marshmallows evenly on top of the batter, gently pressing down on each one as it’s placed. You want tohave 3 rows with 3 marshmallows each when you’re done.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the pan comes out clean (for the most part, a little on the gooey side is okay). Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool completely.

Cut the brownies into 9 large squares.

Tags: food, Liza Hawkins, recipes, Valentine's Day

Category: Features, Holiday/Party Food, Recipes