Brownie Flag

This brownie flag looks cute and festive but is actually so easy. Start with boxed brownies, then add frosting, fresh berries and a fun patriotic design.

American Flag Brownies

America is getting ready to celebrate 250 years, and I can’t think of a more fun excuse to make a red, white and blue dessert for the fourth of July. This brownie flag is cute, festive and surprisingly easy thanks to a boxed brownie mix, store-bought frosting and fresh berries.

I love desserts like this for 4th of July, Memorial Day or Labor Day because they feel special without turning into an all-day project. Add it to your summer BBQ spread with patriotic sugar cookies and red white and blue puppy chow for an easy patriotic dessert spread.

Ingredient Notes

Find the printable recipe with directions below.

• Brownie mix: Use an 18.3-ounce box of fudge brownie mix, plus the ingredients listed on the back of the box. Some brownie mixes are smaller, so check the box size before you start.
• Chocolate chips: These make the brownie base extra rich and chocolatey. Semi-sweet chocolate chips are a safe choice, but milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips work too.
• Vanilla frosting: Store-bought vanilla frosting keeps the decorating simple and gives the berries something to stick to. You’ll need enough for a thin layer over the brownies and the white stripes on top.
• Blueberries: Fresh blueberries create the blue corner of the American flag. Smaller blueberries tend to be easier to arrange neatly.
• Strawberries: Fresh sliced strawberries make the red stripes. Choose ripe but firm berries so they hold their shape on top of the frosting.

How to Make Flag Brownies

Make the brownie batter according to the box directions, then fold in the chocolate chips. I like adding the extra chocolate because it makes the base taste a little more homemade, which is always a win when you are starting with a mix.

Spread the batter into a parchment-lined 9×13 pan and bake until the brownies are set but still fudgy. Let them cool completely before decorating. Warm brownies will melt the frosting and make the berries slide around.

Once the brownies are cool, lift them out of the pan and spread a thin layer of vanilla frosting over the top. It does not need to be perfect since most of it will be covered, but the frosting helps the fruit stick and gives the brownies that red, white and blue look.

Arrange the blueberries in the top left corner first for the ‘stars’ of the flag.

Then add the sliced strawberries in rows to make the red stripes. I like placing the fruit before piping the frosting so you can see exactly where the white stripes need to go.

Add the remaining frosting to a large piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe rows of frosting between the strawberries. The star tip makes the brownie flag look cute and finished, but simple lines work too if that is what you have.

Recipe Tips

• Serve the brownies soon after decorating for the prettiest look. The berries are freshest that way, and the frosting keeps its shape best.
• Choose firm, fresh berries. Soft strawberries or overly juicy berries can make the top messy. Ripe but firm strawberries and fresh blueberries give you the cleanest flag design.
• Slice with a sharp knife. For cleaner squares, wipe the knife between cuts. The frosting and berries can drag a little, so a quick wipe makes a big difference.
• Make ahead: You can bake the brownies the night before, let them cool completely, then cover and keep them at room temperature. Wait to frost and decorate until closer to serving so the berries stay fresh and the flag design looks its best.

Variations

• Try a sugar cookie base. Brownies make this dessert rich and chocolatey, but sugar cookie bars are another popular base for a flag dessert if you want something a little lighter.
• Use homemade frosting. Store-bought frosting keeps this recipe easy, but you can use the frosting from my sugar cookie bars if you want a homemade option. You may need to double or triple it so there is enough for spreading and piping.
• Swap the berries. Raspberries can be used instead of strawberries for the red stripes, or you can use a mix of both. Just choose firm berries so they hold their shape.
• Add sprinkles. For an extra festive look, add red, white and blue sprinkles around the edges or over the piped frosting.