M&M's® Red Velvet Brownie Pops

Make the brownies
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9" x 9" baking dish with parchment paper (on the bottom and sides), then spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2 Melt the butter in the microwave, then combine with the applesauce and cocoa powder, mixing with a hand mixer until smooth.
3 Add the sugar, and beat until combined.
4 Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and incorporated.
5 Add the flour and salt, stirring until just combined.
6 Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle the M&M's® Red Velvet on top.
7 Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the brownies have cooked through and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
8 When cooked, remove from the oven, and let cool completely.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Icing
1 In a medium-sized bowl, whip the softened cream cheese using a hand mixer (or stand mixer.)
2 Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and half-and-half, mixing until smooth.
3 Cover and place in the refrigerator until this is needed.
Form the Brownie Pops
1 Crumble up the brownies into small pieces, as shown in this post, and add 3/4 cup of the Cream Cheese Icing. Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until slightly tacky.
2 Use a small cookie scoop to create the brownie pops. Scoop the dough, then round the pops between your two hands using a rolling motion. Repeat this step until all the pops have been formed.
3 Place the pops on a greased baking sheet, and let chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
Finish the Brownie Pops
1 Once the pops have chilled, insert the cake pop sticks into them until they are firmly in place.
2 Dip the brownie pops into the remaining icing, and stand upright (using a styrofoam box or a special cake pop stand). Sprinkle crushed M&M's® on top of the icing, then chill in the refrigerator for an hour... then dig in!