Best 4th of July Patriotic Brownies

1. Stage

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Grease parchment paper with vegetable oil.

2. Stage

Melt butter in a microwave in a microwave-safe bowl; stir until smooth. Pour in sugar, cocoa powder, water, and vanilla extract. Stir until well blended.

3. Stage

Pour eggs into batter and mix until batter becomes shiny. Stir in flour quickly until thoroughly combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

4. Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 35 minutes.

5. Stage

Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before transferring to the refrigerator to cool completely, about 30 minutes more.

6. Stage

Place 1/2 cup white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir until well blended and mixture is smooth and yogurt-like in consistency.

7. Stage

Stir red food coloring into white chocolate chips until it reaches your desired shade.

8. Stage

Remove brownies from the refrigerator. Spread red-colored chocolate over the top in a stripe. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon red and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces before it hardens.

9. Stage

Melt another 1/2 cup white chocolate chips in a microwave. Stir until smooth.

10. Stage

Stir blue food coloring into white chocolate chips until it reaches your desired shade. Spread onto top of brownies for a second stripe. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon andy-coated chocolate pieces.

11. Stage

Melt remaining 1/2 white chocolate chips in a microwave. Spread onto top of brownies for a third stripe. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of candy-coated chocolate pieces.

12. Stage

Transfer brownies to a refrigerator to allow chocolate to harden for at least 30 minutes.