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Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
Inspired by the beloved cake, these red velvet brownies are dense, fudgy, and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting for an eye-catching dessert that will shake up your usual baking routine.
Make this colorful twist on chocolate brownies for a festive touch at your next holiday party, as an after-school snack, or to just keep in the freezer to have on hand for drop-in guests. The snowy-white cream cheese frosting adds a delicious contrast to the bars, but you can also top them with your favorite chocolate frosting if preferred.
Learn how to make red velvet brownies. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, these red velvet brownies are easy to make, and sure to impress.
Red Velvet Brownies Vs. Red Velvet Cake
While the ingredients of classic red velvet cake are the inspiration for these brownies (namely chocolate, red food coloring, and cream cheese frosting), texture is the difference-maker for these crowd-pleasing desserts.
While red velvet cake is light with an even crumb, red velvet brownies typically have a more dense, fudgy texture. Red velvet cake is often made with buttermilk, which gives it a mild tanginess and a moist crumb, while brownies are made with a higher ratio of fat for a more dense, chewy texture.
Although both are topped or layered with cream cheese frosting, red velvet cake is traditionally stacked and sliced into wedges, while red velvet brownies are frosted and cut into handheld squares for easy grabbing.
Ingredients for Red Velvet Brownies
These red velvet brownies are made with bittersweet baking chocolate, vanilla extract, and red food coloring for that iconic red velvet presentation. Topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, they make for a truly decadent dessert. To make red velvet brownies, you'll need:
For the brownies:
- Cooking spray: To prevent the brownies from sticking to the foil.
- Bittersweet chocolate baking bar: Gives the brownies a traditional chocolate flavor. Baking bars offer more consistent results when used for baking applications.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and moisture to the brownies for a dense, fudgy texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the brownies.
- Large eggs: Binds the batter.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the brownies their structure.
- Baking powder: For a touch of lift.
- Table salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the brownies. If using unsalted butter, increase this quantity slightly.
- Red liquid food coloring: For a traditional red velvet look.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor.
For the cream cheese frosting:
- Cream cheese: Gives the frosting a rich texture and mild tanginess.
- Salted butter: To give the frosting a creamy base and extra stability.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances and rounds out the overall flavor of the frosting.
How To Make Red Velvet Brownies
This unique twist on a beloved dessert comes together in just 30 minutes of active time. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:
- Step 1. Prepare the Brownies: Lightly grease bottom and sides of a baking pan with cooking spray; line bottom and sides with parchment paper, and lightly grease the parchment.
- Step 2. Melt the chocolate: Microwave chocolate and butter until smooth. Whisk in sugar. Whisk in eggs.
- Step 3. Add dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture along with the food coloring and vanilla.
- Step 4. Bake: Pour into prepared pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Transfer to a wire rack, and cool completely.
- Step 5. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Spread frosting over brownies before cutting, or cut brownies into squares and pipe to top with frosting.
Red Velvet Brownies Variations
To put a unique spin on these brownies, consider these possible substitutions and additions:
- Mix-ins: Fold mix-ins into the brownie batter, including white chocolate chips, pecans or walnuts, crushed cookies, or chocolate chunks.
- Toppings: Skip the frosting and opt for a cream cheese swirl, or drizzle the baked brownies with melted white chocolate or chocolate ganache.
- Garnishes: Top the frosted brownies with a drizzle of melted dark chocolate, any stray crumbs left after cutting, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or sprinkles.
- Mini: Bake in mini cupcake pans for bite-sized treats.
Our Tips For the Best Red Velvet Brownies
For the best red velvet brownies, keep these tips in mind:
- Leave an overhang: Whether you line your pan with foil or parchment paper, make sure to leave an overhang so you can easily remove the brownies from the pan before cutting.
- Don't overmix: To avoid an overly dense result, avoid overmixing the batter.
- Chill before cutting: For the cleanest cuts.
- Don't overbake (or underbake): Bake just until a wooden pick inserted comes out with a few moist bits to avoid a dry result.
- Cool completely: Hot brownies and butter-based frostings do not mix. Cool completely before topping the brownies to keep your frosting from melting.
- Top decoratively: Use a small offset spatula to spread the frosting over the cooled brownies before slicing, or transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a round or star tip to decoratively top the brownie squares after cutting.
How To Store Red Velvet Brownies
Red velvet brownies, with their cream cheese topping, should be left out for no more than two hours while serving. Refrigerate leftovers for up to five days in an airtight container, or freeze for up to two months for longer storage. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
More Red Velvet-Inspired Dessert Recipes You'll Love
These red velvet-inspired cheesecake, cinnamon roll, cookie, cake, ice cream, and cobbler recipes take the iconic dessert in a whole new direction:
- Red Velvet Cheesecake
- Red Velvet Cake Balls
- Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
- Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisu Trifle
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
- Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake
- Molten Red Velvet Cakes
Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.
Ingredients
Brownies:
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Cooking spray
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1 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
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3/4 cup (6 oz.) salted butter
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1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
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4 large eggs
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1 1/4 cups (about 5 3/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
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1 tsp. baking powder
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1/4 tsp. table salt
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1 (1-oz.) bottle red liquid food coloring
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2 tsp. vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
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1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
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1/2 cup (4 oz.) salted butter, softened
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6 cups (about 24 oz.) powdered sugar
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2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
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Prepare the oven and baking pan:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; line bottom and sides with parchment paper, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease (with cooking spray) parchment.
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Melt chocolate:
Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwavable bowl on HIGH until melted and smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar; add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition.
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Make batter:
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Gently stir flour mixture, food coloring, and vanilla into chocolate mixture, stirring just until well incorporated.
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Bake Brownies:
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.
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While Brownies cool, prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting:
Beat cream cheese and softened butter in bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in powdered sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe frosting on top of brownies or spread frosting over brownies. Cut brownies into squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Due to the cream cheese topping, these brownies should be left out for no more than two hours while serving.
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For that vibrant red velvet color, some food coloring does need to be used to make these brownies. You can make the choice between liquid, gel, or natural food dye options.
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The brownies should be baked until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. They'll continue to set as they cool.