Sourdough Brownies for Valentine’s Day

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These sourdough brownies for Valentine’s Day are fudgy and festive. They’re made with gooey chocolate butter, sourdough starter discard, and a festive sprinkle of candy on top.

Perfect for sharing a little love (and a lot of chocolate) with your favorite people!

When February rolls around, I can’t resist baking a special treat for my family, and these sourdough Valentine’s Day brownies are an easy, family-favorite.

This is a classic fudge brownie recipe with a sourdough twist and a sprinkle of M&Ms for extra chocolately goodness.

They pair perfectly with my Valentine’s Day heart cupcakes, sourdough strawberry chocolate chip scones, sourdough strawberry shortcake, and my chocolate sourdough bread recipe for a Valentine’s Day spread.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sourdough: The added sourdough discard adds a subtle tangy flavor. If you are new to sourdough, start with my sourdough starter for beginners’ recipe.

Fudgy: These Valentine’s brownies are extra decadent and fudgy.

Fun for Kids: Making brownies is a fun activity for kids. And little ones love to add the M&M’s (or sprinkles) on top.

Share the Love: This is a great recipe for gifting sourdough and spreading a little Valentine’s Day love.

Key Ingredients

Butter: Use unsalted butter. If you only have salted, reduce the salt in the recipe.

Chocolate Chips: I used dark chocolate chips, but any type of chocolate chip will do.

Vanilla: I used homemade vanilla extract with bourbon. Either store-bought or homemade vanilla will work.

Flour: For a classic flavor and texture, use all-purpose flour. Fresh-milled soft wheat is also a great choice, but you may need to add an extra 1/4 cup or so.

Cocoa Powder: Dutch process cocoa powder is my favorite. But any cocoa powder will work.

Sourdough Starter: You can use an all-purpose starter, fresh-milled flour sourdough starter, or even an einkorn sourdough starter.

Chocolate Candies: I used Valentine’s Day M&M’s. But you can use any chocolate candies you prefer. You can also swap them out with sprinkles.

Get the full list of ingredients and measurements on the printable recipe card below.

Variations

Espresso: Add 1 teaspoon of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor.

Peanut Butter: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter onto the batter, then use a butter knife to swirl it. You can also top the brownies with peanut butter M&Ms.

Fruit Swirl: Use a butter knife to swirl about 1/3 cup of raspberry jam or canned strawberry jam onto the top of the brownie batter.

Strawberry Chocolate: Add chopped strawberries or use my freeze-dried strawberries recipe for added flavor and color.

How To Make Sourdough Brownies for Valentine’s Day

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8″x8″ or 9″x9″ baking dish with parchment paper or grease it thoroughly with butter.

Step 2: In a small saucepan, melt the butter on low heat. Keep the temp as low as possible. You don’t want the butter to get hot and separate, or it will make your brownies greasy.

Step 3: Remove the melted butter from the heat and add the dark chocolate chips and vanilla.

Step 4: Stir until the chocolate is thoroughly melted and combined. If the chocolate isn’t melting, put it back on the burner over low heat, stirring constantly.

Once combined, set aside.

Step 5: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 6: In a small bowl, stir together the whole eggs, egg yolk, and sourdough discard. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Step 7: Pour the egg and chocolate-butter mixtures into the dry ingredients. Stir until combined with no lumps.

Step 8: Transfer the brownie mixture into the prepared baking dish. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the mixture evenly.

Sprinkle the top of the brownie mixture with the M&M’s.

Step 9: Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 10: Remove from the oven and cool completely before slicing (this is the hardest part of the recipe).

Tips for Success

• Let the brownies cool to room temperature before cutting. This will help them develop flavor and hold their shape.
• If you can stand it, after they cool, I recommend refrigerating them for a while (we usually eat a few before popping them in the fridge).
• The chocolate candies will inevitably crack while baking and cutting the brownies. I like adding a few fresh M&M’s on top before serving for a nice aesthetic.
• If you are making sourdough brownies for digestibility or want more sourdough tang, long-ferment the batter in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Serving Suggestions

Ice Cream: Serve warm with a scoop of old-fashioned strawberry ice cream or no-egg vanilla ice cream.

Fresh Fruit: Pair with fresh strawberries or raspberries.

Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream with vanilla for a decadent touch.

Coffee: Sweet treats like brownies are always delicious with a cup of coffee and brown sugar coffee creamer.

Storing

• My favorite way to store leftover brownies is in the fridge. They develop a delicious fudgy texture that way.
• Store them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• You can also store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
• To freeze, store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Sourdough Brownies for Valentine’s Day FAQs

More Sourdough Discard Recipes

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