Red Velvet brownies that are rich, dense, chewy and full of classic red velvet flavor. They make the perfect recipe for Valentine's day as they totally fit the theme and offcourse you can make these even otherwise when you crave some!!
Valentine's day just around the corner and if you are looking to bake something special for that special someone then I've just the perfect treat for you - Red Velvet Brownies. They are rich, dense, chewy and full of classic red velvet flavor plus they totally fit the bill for the whole Valentine's day theme.
These brownies are definitely not like the typical chocolate brownies which are full of chocolaty flavor. For Red Velvet we do have the cocoa powder in there but in less proportion compared to a usual brownie since we want the Red to show. Too much cocoa powder mixed with red doesn't give a very nice color. These brownies have just the right amount of chocolate flavor smoothly paired with vanilla. I've adapted this recipe from here. If you like Red Velvet Cake be sure to try out these brownies.
How to make Red Velvet Brownies:
It is easy to make red velvet brownies and it mainly requires pantry staples. You can eat these brownies as is (they are just so delicious on their own) or frost them with cream cheese frosting to make them more decadent or an easy option is to decorate them with white chocolate drizzle like shown in this recipe.
To Make Red velvet Brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan/dish and line with parchment paper keeping some extra on the two opposite sides (This helps lift the brownie up from the pan once it cools) and set aside.
Wet mixture: In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter (approximately 1 min in microwave) and add the sugar to it. Whisk till combined then add the vanilla, egg and again mix till the egg is well incorporated. Now add vinegar and food coloring and mix again.
Dry Mixture: In a mixing bowl, add the all purpose flour, cocoa powder and salt. Mix well.
Fold in the dry mixture into the wet mixture (butter and sugar) until combined. Stir in the walnuts (if using any) and pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. This batter will be thick so using a spatula spread it to be as even as possible.
Bake for 20-25 mins or until toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting.
To decorate the Red velvet brownies
You can decorate these red velvet brownies either with cream cheese frosting or an easy alternative of white chocolate drizzle and sprinkles.
White Chocolate Drizzle: Melt the white chocolate in microwave at 30 second intervals and stirring till chocolate has melted (mine required 1 min). Now transfer the melted chocolate to a ziplock bag or piping bag and cut to make a small tip. Drizzle the chocolate all over the brownies and finally add some sprinkles of choice. Let the chocolate set for a few minutes and your brownies are ready!
Cream Cheese Frosting: In a bowl combine the cheese & butter till soft & fluffy. Then add the sugar, half cup at a time & keep stirring till all is well combined. Finally add the vanilla extract & mix. That’s it our cream cheese frosting is ready. Spread it over the cooled brownies to frost them and brownies are ready!
That's it, out decadent, dense and chewy Red Velvet Brownies are ready! Serve them with lot of love...Enjoy!
More Valentines day recipes to try:
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Hope you enjoy these Red Velvet Brownies as much as we do!! If you give this recipe a try, we did love to hear from you ❤️ Please let us know your rating ⭐️and feedback in the comments below. Thank you!
Red Velvet Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red liquid food color 1 teaspoon red gel food coloring
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder unsweetened
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup walnuts optional
For brownie decoration:
- ¼ cup white chocolate and Sprinkles of choice as shown in this recipe
- OR
- Cream cheese Frosting as below
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ¼ cup butter room temperature
- ¼ cup cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make Red Velvet Brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 8 by 8-inch baking pan/dish and line with parchment paper keeping some extra on the two opposite sides (This helps lift the brownie up from the pan once it cools) and set aside.
- Wet Mixture: In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter (approximately 1 min in microwave) and add the sugar to it. Whisk till combined then add the vanilla, egg and again mix till the egg is well incorporated. Now add vinegar and food coloring and mix again.
- Dry Mixture: In a mixing bowl, add the all purpose flour, cocoa powder and salt.
- Mix well and fold in the dry mixture with the wet mixture (butter and sugar) until combined.
- Stir in the walnuts (if using any) and pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. This batter will be thick so using a spatula spread it to be as even as possible.
- Bake for 20-25 mins or until toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.
- Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting.
To decorate the Red Velvet brownies:
- You can either decorate the red velvet brownies with white chocolate drizzle as showing this recipe of frost them with cream cheese frosting.
- White Chocolate Drizzle: Melt the white chocolate in microwave at 30 second intervals and stirring till chocolate has melted (mine required 1 min). Now transfer the melted chocolate to a ziplock bag or piping bag and cut to make a small tip. Drizzle the chocolate all over the brownies and finally add some sprinkles of choice. Let the chocolate set for a few minutes and your brownies are ready!
- For Cream Cheese Frosting: In a bowl combine the cheese & butter till soft & fluffy. Then add the sugar, half cup at a time & keep stirring till all is well combined. Finally add the vanilla extract & mix. That’s it our cream cheese frosting is ready.
Happy Baking!
Shweta
Hey
Hope u are doing well i had one question why did u add vinegar and also we do not need to add baking powder ?
Also putting white chocolate in piping bag will not coz problem right the frostjng will come out perfect ?
Hi Akanksha, thank you, hope all is well with you too! Great questions!!
1 - Vinegar in red velvet brownies acts as a substitute for buttermilk which is typically used in red velvet cakes. It provides the slight tang required that is typical of red velvet without affecting the texture, sweetness, or adding any bitterness to the brownies.
2 - Baking powder - there is no baking soda or powder in this recipe. This is a classic brownie recipe without leavening agents that gives a fudgy dense brownie. Usually, cake-like brownies require baking powder to give that lift and airy texture.
3 - And the last one about white chocolate frosting - melt the chocolate and frost immediately. You can use a ziplock bag too. The chocolate will solidify with time so you want to drizzle soon.
Made these to send to my youngest for their birthday. They love Red Velvet cake, but it doesn't exactly mail well, lol. They came out dense & chewy & delicious. I used the white chocolate drizzle so it would be firmer to mail. I put them in red & white polka dot baking cups & they look adorable. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Molly, Thank you for making these and glad you loved them!! Wishing your youngest a happy birthday!
Awsome recipe. The brownies turned out to be very yummy, chewy.
Thank you so much Nusrath!! Glad you liked them!!
Is there suppose to be baking soda in the recipe?
Hi Katrina, No, there is no baking soda in this recipe. This is a classic brownie recipe with no leavening i.e. baking soda or baking powder that gives a fudgy dense brownie. Usually, cake-like brownies require baking powder to give that lift and airy texture. Hope that clarifies.
It's really amazing !
I'm going to try
Thank you Pramila! Please share your feedback if you try it!
hello! this is a perfect recipe. How long is the shelf life?
Thank you! They can stay for about a week at room temperature if stored in airtight or vacuum sealed container. Freeze for longer use.
Can I use Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder?
yes you can
I don't have bacon or cocoa powder could I use baking chocolate instead?
Hi Melaine, You can replace cocoa powder with 2oz bitter sweet chocolate. Melt it with the butter.
Hi! I’m excited to try your recipe but I wanted to make sure I get the right ingredients. If I cannot get vanilla essence can I use vanilla extract? And what kind of vinegar? White? Thanks!
Hi Hannah, thank you for checking! Yes, you can use vanilla extract and its white vinegar. I've updated the ingredient list to reflect this. I am excited to know how they turn out!!