Indulge in the rich, fudgy decadence of Red Velvet Brownies, the perfect fusion of classic red velvet cake and chewy brownies. Topped with a delicious Cream Cheese Frosting, these vibrant, cocoa-kissed treats are irresistibly smooth and perfect for any dessert lover!
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Why This Recipe Works:
- Red velvet and cream cheese are a match made in dessert heaven! I’ve shared this irresistible combo before with my Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies and Red Velvet Cake Balls, and now it’s back in a delicious new way!
- These brownies come together quickly and are easy to make. A variation of my favorite homemade brownie recipe, I knew these would be a hit!
- Most of the ingredients are probably in your pantry! I just had to buy red food coloring to make these.
What Goes Into This Recipe?
- Butter- I use unsalted butter but salted can be used too. Just omit the additional salt from the remaining of the recipe.
- Red Food Coloring- Whenever I need to add color to a recipe, I always use red food gel coloring. It’s far more vibrant than liquid food coloring, and a little goes a long way!
Expert Tip: Pan Size
For thicker brownies bake your brownies in a 9x9 pan. I used a 9x13 for the brownies pictured, but baking the brownies in a slightly smaller pan will give you more height.
Brownie Variations
These brownies are delicious as-is, but you can easily take them to the next level by adding mix-ins for extra flavor and texture. Here are some fun ideas to try:
- Mix in chocolate chips for extra chocolate flavor.
- Swirl in peanut butter or cream cheese.
- Mix in nuts like walnuts or pecans for a nice crunch.
- Chop up dried fruit like cranberries or cherries for some extra chewiness.
How to Make Red Velvet Brownies?
- Step 1: Melt butter then stir in cocoa powder- set aside.
- Step 2: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt- set aside.
- Step 3: Mix your butter/cocoa mixture, sugar, vanilla, and red food coloring. Then mix in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
- Step 4: Fold in the flour mixture.
- Step 5: Pour into prepared dish, then bake until a toothpick comes out clean!
- Step 6: Allow brownies to cool before frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Yes, these freeze best before frosting. Place in a freezer safe container or baggie and freeze for up to 2 months.
Yes, the food coloring just makes the brownies red. Leaving it out won't addect the the brownie's flavor or texture.
Are These Brownies True Red Velvet?
Yes and no. These brownies are rich, chocolatey, and beautifully red. However, traditional red velvet cake gets its signature maroon hue from a combination of cocoa, vinegar, and buttermilk, enhanced with food coloring.
For these brownies, I focused on making them both delicious and easy—so no buttermilk or vinegar, just pure fudgy goodness!
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If you like this recipe make sure to check out my, white chocolate strawberries, easy lemon bars, s’mores brownies, and my cocoa puff cereal bars!
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Red Velvet Brownies
Ingredients
Red Velvet Brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 oz red food coloring gel
- 4 large eggs
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter slightly softened but still cool and cut into chunks
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tbs heavy cream plus more if needed
- Pinch of salt
- 2.5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
- In a microwave safe dish melt the butter. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and repeat until the butter is completely melted.1 cup unsalted butter
- Stir cocoa powder into melted butter making sure there are no clumps. Set aside.¼ cup cocoa powder
- While butter mixture is cooling, in a separate small bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.1 cup all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt
- In a stand mixer, or using a hand mixer, mix together the butter mixture (it’s okay if it’s still warm), sugar, vanilla, and red food coloring. Then add the eggs one at a time, letting each egg become fully incorporated into the batter before adding the next.2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 oz red food coloring gel, 4 large eggs
- By hand, with a large rubber spatula or mixing spoon, fold in the flour mixture. Folding in the flour will help the brownie batter keep the air in it.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 27-33 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting and cutting.
Frosting
- Combine the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer and cream until light and fluffy.¼ cup unsalted butter, 2 oz cream cheese
- Mix in the vanilla, heavy cream, and salt and whip on high for a few minutes.1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 tbs heavy cream, Pinch of salt
- Then mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Add more heavy cream 1 tbs at a time if the frosting is too thick.2.5 cups powdered sugar
- Spread over the brownies and enjoy.
Notes
- You can bake these in a 9x9 pan for thicker brownies. Just increase the bake time until they are cooked through.
- Once frosted I recommend refrigerating any leftover brownies. Cover the dish with plastic wrap to keep them fresh.
Lisa Killian says
These are so good and very easy to make!