Sand Art Brownies

How cute is this Sand Art Brownie mix?! I made this brownie mix just by coloring the sugar before adding it to the jar. Other than that, it is just the usual--flour, cocoa, and chocolate chips! Once I got the food coloring figured out (you have to use the liquid food coloring; the gel variety will just clump up in the sugar), it was a piece of cake!

Here's how it works:

For the Sand Art:

2 cups sugar
Food coloring
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup semisweet or white chocolate chips or a combination of both
1 clear glass quart jar with a tight fitting lid

To make the Brownies:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for greasing pan
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

To color the sugar: Divide the sugar into 4 (1/2-cup) portions. Put 1/2 cup sugar into the jar (I used a salad shaker) and add 1 to 3 drops of food coloring. Put the lid on and shake the jar well until the sugar is completely colored. Empty the sugar into a small bowl and continue with the remaining sugar using different food colorings to make different colors.

To make the Sand Art: Whisk together the flour and salt and set aside. Layer the dry ingredients into the jar, alternating colors (the sugar) and dark (cocoa powder) and light (flour), making your own design. Then add the chips! Screw on the lid and print out this recipe to enclose with your gift jar.

To bake: Heat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9-inch pan with butter.

Dump the contents of the jar into a large bowl. Mix together the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Now, I haven't made the actual brownies yet, so I can't say how good they are (but how can you really go wrong with brownies?). I was more concerned with how great the mix looks in the jar!