Red Velvet Brownies

If you love red velvet cake and a classic fudgy brownie, this red velvet brownies recipe is for you! The homemade brownies are fudgy and soft and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting.

For more brownie recipes, try my cosmic brownies and oreo brownies!

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• You'll Love This Recipe!
• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• Tips
• How to make Red Velvet Brownies
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• More Brownie Recipes
• Red Velvet Brownies

Old Fashioned Red velvet cake is one of my favorite desserts. I describe the taste as a mix of vanilla and subtle hints of cocoa for a mild chocolate flavor. These brownies have that classic red velvet flavor with the fudgy texture of a brownie and literally melt in your mouth.

The brownies are easy to make and even easier to eat. You'll find yourself snacking on these decadent fudgy brownies in a state of total bliss!

These easy red velvet brownies are perfect for valentine's day or galentine's day and are so delicious with a little ice cream or a glass of cold milk!

This red velvet brownie recipe is loosely based on my cosmic brownies recipe - very soft, smooth, and fudgy texture.

You'll Love This Recipe!

• Easy to make! This recipe could not be easier to make. Simply combine the wet and dry ingredients and bake! Best part, baking time is only 25 minutes!
• Perfect for special occasions! These are the best red velvet brownies and everyone else will agree! Make these for any occasion, especially girl's night or valentine's day!
• Fudgy and delicious! Need I say more? The fudgy texture of these brownies makes them such a treat to enjoy!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need:

• Eggs and Egg Yolk - that extra egg yolk really enhances the flavor and adds to the fudgy texture.
• Sugar and Brown Sugar - for sweetness, moisture, and flavor.
• Unsalted butter - we're using melted unsalted butter, so no worries about having to wait for your butter to come to room temperature.
• Vegetable Oil - oil is what makes the fudgy red velvet brownies nice and soft. It makes them chewy while keeping them moist.
• Sour Cream - for a little added fat, the sour cream also provides a nice bit of flavor and enhances the texture of the brownies
• Red food coloring - for that perfect beautiful red velvet color, I use Anne Clark's super red food dye. It works like a champ every time and provide a beautiful red hue to these decadent red velvet brownies.
• Vanilla Extract - a teaspoon vanilla extract does the trick to get that balanced red velvet flavor.
• White Vinegar - believe it or not, vinegar actually works with the food dye to enhance that deep red color. It also adds a nice bit of tang to get that classic red velvet flavor.
• All purpose flour - make sure to measure your flour properly!
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - just a little cocoa powder balances the vanilla extract for that perfect red velvet flavor.
• Kosher Salt - a pinch of salt really allows the flavors to come together really nicely.

Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

• powdered sugar
• cream cheese
• unsalted butter
• vanilla extract
• kosher salt
• red food coloring (optional)

Substitutions

• Vegan: replace eggs with flax eggs and use your favorite non-dairy butter and sour cream in the same amounts listed in the recipe card.
• Dairy free: use your favorite non-dairy alternatives in the exact amounts listed in the recipe card.
• Gluten free: use your favorite 1-to-1 gluten free flour instead of all purpose flour.

Tips

• Add white chocolate chips to the red velvet brownie batter for added chocolate flavor!
• Use gel coloring as opposed to water based food coloring for a vibrant and beautiful red color.
• To prevent dry brownies, it is better to underbake the brownies than to overbake. Once the edges are set and the center of the brownies are slightly jiggly, remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

How to make Red Velvet Brownies

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl - flour, cocoa powder, and salt. (Image #1)

• In a separate bowl, combine eggs and egg yolk, sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, and vegetable oil. Whisk everything together for about 2 minutes, until fully combined. (Image #2)

• Then add sour cream, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Continue to mix, then add red food coloring and mix until mixture is bright red.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. (Image #3)

• Spray an 8x8 square pan with nonstick baking spray or line with parchment paper. Add brownie batter and bake for 25-28 minutes, until the edges are set and the center of the brownies are slightly jiggly. (Image #4)

• Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the cream cheese frosting - add cream cheese, butter, and vanilla to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix together on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and continue to mix until combined and fluffy. (Image #5)

• For the red icing swirl, take half of the cream cheese frosting and place in a mixing bowl. Add a tbsp of red food coloring and mix together.
• Once the brownies have completely cooled, dollop the white cream cheese frosting and red cream cheese frosting on top of the brownies and swirl together with a toothpick or butter knife. Optional - add sprinkles on top!

Recipe FAQs

More Brownie Recipes