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Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 71 reviews

These Red Velvet Brownies combine the rich chocolate flavor of classic brownies with the distinctive red velvet color and taste, topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting. Moist and fudgy with a slightly tangy sweetness, they are perfect for dessert or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Red Velvet Brownies

  • 3/4 cup (158 g) butter, melted (regular or dairy free)
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) light brown sugar
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid red food coloring
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup (22 g) cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup + 3 tbsp (148 g) all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 oz plain cream cheese, room temperature (use dairy free if needed)
  • 1/4 cup (53 g) butter, softened (dairy free or regular)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2–2 cups (180 g) powdered sugar (icing sugar)
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (only if dairy free, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8×8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving extra hanging over the sides for easy brownie removal.
  2. Melt Butter and Mix Sugars: Melt the butter either in the microwave or over the stove. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in the light brown sugar and granulated sugar until mixture is thick and pulls away cleanly from the sides.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, white vinegar, vanilla extract, and liquid red food coloring to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix well until combined and the batter is evenly colored.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine cocoa powder, salt, and all-purpose flour. Add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture and whisk gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  5. Pour Batter and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, scraping out all batter with a spatula. Bake for 30-40 minutes, starting to check at 30 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. The brownies are done when the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter and the top appears crinkly.
  6. Make Cream Cheese Frosting: While brownies cool, beat cream cheese, softened butter, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. If using dairy free cream cheese, optionally add cornstarch to thicken.
  7. Cool and Frost: Let brownies cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper to lift brownies out, then spread the cream cheese frosting on top evenly. Store frosted brownies in the refrigerator or keep frosting refrigerated until ready to frost.

Notes

  • Use liquid red food coloring for the best vibrant red color; adjust amount to your preferred shade of red.
  • All-purpose flour can be substituted with gluten-free flour blend if needed.
  • If dairy-free, use dairy-free butter and cream cheese alternatives. Adding cornstarch to the frosting helps achieve better texture.
  • Do not over-bake the brownies to avoid dryness; check with a toothpick at 30 minutes.
  • Let brownies cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.

Keywords: Red Velvet Brownies, Cream Cheese Frosting, Chocolate Brownies, Dessert, Fudgy Brownies

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/red-velvet-brownies-with-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/