Ingredients:
 
Brownies:

1 cup butter, cubed
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans

Frosting:

1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 cups confectioners' sugar
5 to 6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red, white and blue decorating icing
 
Directions:

For the Brownies:

Melt the butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and stir until smooth. Stir in the sugar and vanilla until completely combined.

Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring well after adding each egg.

Combine flour and salt in a small mixing bowl and stir into the chocolate mixture until combined.

Stir in pecans until evenly mixed throughout the mixture.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Spread the mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven with baking mitts to keep from burning yourself, and let cool on a wire rack.

For the frosting:

Melt the butter and the chocolate over low heat in a small heavy saucepan and stir until smooth.

Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioners' sugar, milk, and vanilla until completely blended.

Frost the brownies and cut into 24 square bars.

Lightly press a star outline in the center of each brownie using a small star-shaped cookie cutter.

Outline the pressed in stars with the red, white and blue icing, alternating the colors or using the color design of the American flag.