# Valentine Brownie
> Bake a boxed brownie mix in a heart-shaped pan with your preschooler, then decorate it together with powdered sugar, M&M's and a drizzle of melted chocolate. Measuring, color sorting and fine motor practice are built right in.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-valentine-brownie/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: measuring, color-sorting, fine-motor, cooking-skills
- Cautions: wheat-gluten, egg, dairy, soy, corn, nuts, food-dye

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 box Betty Crocker brownie mix
- Ingredients called for on the brownie mix package (household)
- 1 piece Heart-shaped baking pan
- 1 piece Mixing bowl and spoon (household)
- Powdered sugar
- M&M's
- 1 piece Hershey's bar
- 1 sheet Parchment paper (household)
- 1 piece Fine sieve (household)
- 1 piece Cake stand or serving plate (household)
- 1 piece Small bowl and plate for sorting (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of brownie mix: Your own family or favorite brownie recipe (The author uses a mix as a shortcut when kids help, but says to follow your own recipe if you prefer.)

## Safety
- This is real food that kids will eat. Check every package label for allergies before you start (brownie mix, M&M's, chocolate bar, powdered sugar).
- An adult handles the oven, the hot pan and the melted chocolate.
- Let the brownie cool completely before kids decorate it.
- Small candies like M&M's can be a choking hazard for young children. Supervise closely.
- Wash hands before baking and decorating.

## Before you start
- Read the brownie mix package and gather the extra ingredients it calls for.
- Check all labels for allergens if anyone eating has food allergies.

## Steps
1. Show your helper the brownie mix and the heart-shaped pan, and prepare the pan as the package directs.
2. Measure and mix the brownie batter together, following the package directions.
3. Pour the batter into the heart pan. Adult: bake it as the package directs.
4. Adult: cool the brownie completely. Line the cake stand with parchment paper and set the brownie on it.
5. Sort the M&M's by color into a bowl.
6. Spoon powdered sugar into a fine sieve and dust it over the brownie.
7. Press M&M's around the edge of the heart.
8. Adult: melt the Hershey's bar. Then drizzle it over the top together.
9. Slice and enjoy a scrumptious piece.

## Tips
- When you have kids helping in the kitchen, it's perfectly fine to take some necessary short-cuts. A boxed brownie mix is just as fabulous, quick and easy to whip up.
- Line your stand with parchment paper so you don't have to worry about the mess from all the decorating.
- Let your little one decide what to decorate the brownie with. We chose powdered sugar and M&M's.
- Anytime is a learning time: do a simple color sort with the M&M's and practice measuring with the powdered sugar.
- Did you notice all the fine motor skills too? Sieving, placing candies and drizzling all count.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

With any occasion comes the big question : What’s for dessert ? With decorated cake pops and cookies topping the list, we have decided to give our yummy, fudgey, chocolaty and warm brownies all the attention it deserves. Our Valentine’s Day treat is our home favorite Brownies. Now I have always said, when you have kids helping you in the kitchen, it's perfectly fine in my book to take some necessary short-cuts. But if that’s not for you, go ahead and follow your owun family or favorite recipe. Me ? I’m sticking to Betty Crocker Brownie Mix ! They are just as fabulous and quick and easy to whip up.

- Betty Crocker Brownie mix
- Powdered sugar
- M&M’s
- Hershey's bar
- Parchment paper

Did you notice my Heart shaped Pan? Well, I followed the directions on the package and baked the Valentine brownie.I also let my pre schooler help me in all the steps: measuring, mixing and all. Baking with my daughter brings me joy to both of us while helping her learn various skills.

 I cooled the Valentine brownie completely and lined my stand with parchment paper so I don’t have to worry about the mess from all the decorating ! I placed the Valentine brownie on the sheet.

 Since my little girl loves to cook and bake with me, I let her decide what she wants to decorate her Valentine brownie with. We chose powdered sugar and M&M’s.

 Anytime is a learning time. I used to opportunity to do a simple color sorting with the M&M’s and measures with the powdered sugar.

 I placed the powered sugar on a fine sieve and dusted the Valentine brownie and finished by decorating with M&M’s and a good drizzle of melted Hershey’s bar – YUMM ! (Did you notice all the fine motor skills too?)

 A scrumptious slice for the kiddo.



Thanks for reading

More [**Valentine's day activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/valentines-day-holidays/) on our category page. Check our a few sample posts below

- [**Rose scented play dough recipe**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-rose-scented-playdough/)
- [**Hearts Butterflies**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-hearts-butterflies/)
- [**Easy Hearts Art**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-crafts-melted-crayon-hearts-art/)
- [**Hearts Printing for toddlers**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art/)