Red Velvet Brownies

Red Velvet Brownies
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Red Velvet Brownies are the prettiest dessert this side of Valentine’s Day. Crafted from an authentic red velvet cake recipe, these buttermilk brownies with cream cheese frosting will melt in your mouth.

Despite living in the south the majority of my life, I’ll always be a northerner at heart. I love fall leaves, furry boots and telling people to go fly a kite. With a metal key attached. During a major lightening storm. Call it anti-social or part of my Yankee charm; Southern hospitality just isn’t in my genes. Besides, it’s too damn hot in Florida to be nice.

While I can’t stomach Southern pleasantries, Southern recipes are a different story. In fact, there’s nothing my stomach likes more than a Southern-made dessert. And the best of the best is a Southern classic: Red Velvet Cake. There’s just something about this crimson cake that wows no matter what form you eat it in: layer cake, sheet cake, bundt cake or brownies.

functional image red velvet brownies frosted with cream cheese icing top down uncut in a black tray lined with aluminum foil the right side of the brownies is styled with fresh roses

That’s right, I said red velvet brownies. It’s a ruby red dessert scratch-made in true southern fashion: with moisture-packing buttermilk, white vinegar and cocoa powder. And bless your heart if you think adding food coloring to box mix brownies is a passable shortcut. Don’t do it; that’s blasphemous to anyone below the Mason-Dixon line.

Keep the peace between geographic regions in the States and try this stand-out recipe for yourself. No matter where you call home, these bright red brownies are pure perfection slathered with a tangy white layer of cream cheese frosting.

functional image red velvet brownies top down on a pink background. brownies are in a square black tray with three slices cut and the uncut portion is styled with pink and purple fresh roses and greenery. frosted with cream cheese icing.

Before sharing the recipe for Red Velvet Brownies, here are a few tips to help you out:

Ingredient Tips

I only bake with unbleached all-purpose flour. Bleach should only be added to brownies for a cheating boyfriend, not brownies you’re eating yourself.

For best results (and to avoid lumps), cream cheese must be at room temperature before preparing frosting.

Gel food coloring is recommended because it is more vibrant and less batter diluting than regular food coloring. Double the amount of food coloring in the recipe if you are substituting a non-gel color.

Preparation Tips

Above all, always bake brownies in a shiny metal pan. Avoid glass and stoneware pans for brownies because of their prolonged bake times.

Remove brownies from the oven when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. If the batter is still wet then continue baking and check again in one minute increments. Take care to avoid overbaking.

How to Store Red Velvet Brownies

Cover and store frosted brownies in the refrigerator up to 5 days or in the freezer up to 2 months.

Unfrosted brownies can be stored covered at room temperature up to 3 days.

functional image red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting side view with a pink background styled with pink and purple fresh roses one slice has a bite missing and red crumbs

I hope you enjoy this Red Velvet Brownie recipe. Please leave a rating and review below when you try it for yourself. And, while you’re at it, sign up for my weekly Recipe Newsletter so you never miss a tempting recipe!

Finally, if you like unique brownies then you’ll love this Cherry Cheesecake Brownies Recipe. Made from scratch, these fudgy brownies are studded with cherry pie filling and creamy cheesecake for a swirl of both in every bite. 

functional image cherry cheesecake brownies side view on a baking rack closeup of one bite missing from a slice and styled with a messy knife and a glass jar with cherry pie filling
functional image red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting and purple roses three slices cut one on its side so you can see the red crumb styled with forks and fresh flowers on a pick background

Red Velvet Brownies

Heather Wolf
Red Velvet Brownies are the prettiest dessert this side of Valentine's Day. Crafted from an authentic red velvet cake recipe, these buttermilk brownies with cream cheese frosting will melt in your mouth.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 33 minutes
Cool 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 53 minutes
Course Brownies and Blondies
Cuisine American
Servings 9

Equipment

  • 8 x 8 metal baking pan

Ingredients
  

Red Velvet Brownies

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract pure
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp red gel food coloring
  • 3/4 tsp white vinegar
  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 100% cacao
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour unbleached
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt fine

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract pure

Instructions
 

Red Velvet Brownies

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 metal baking pan with aluminum foil then set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together butter and sugar until combined.
  • Add vanilla and eggs, whisking until smooth.
  • Add buttermilk and vinegar and continue whisking until incorporated.
  • Whisk in food coloring. Be sure to whisk all the way to the bottom of the bowl to ensure color is evenly distributed.
  • Stir in cocoa powder with a spoon.
  • Finally, add flour and salt, stirring with a spoon until just combined. Be careful to avoid overmixing or your brownies will crack as they bake.
  • Pour brownie batter into baking pan then smooth with a spatula until even.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking.
  • Remove brownies from oven and place pan on a baking rack to cool completely at room temperature before frosting, approximately 1 hour.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy – approximately 2 minutes.
  • Add butter and continue beating until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
  • Reduce mixer speed to low then add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat on low until combined then beat on high until light and fluffy.
  • Slather frosting on cooled brownies then slice and serve. For pristine slices, wipe the knife blade clean with hot water after each cut.
  • Cover and store frosted brownies in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Keyword brownies, red velvet


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Christine
2 years ago

5 stars
YUM!!! This looks so good! We are fans of both brownies and red velvet–the perfect combo, especially for Valentine’s Day. Can’t wait to make these.

Colleen
2 years ago

5 stars
Holy moly! Those look as beautiful as they are delicious. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

Maureen
Maureen
2 years ago

Oooo yum! I love red velvet and my hubby loves brownies! This is such a perfect combination and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

Heather
2 years ago

Yum! I can’t wait to try these! My family will love them!

Cinny
2 years ago

Red Velvet brownies sound delicious! I was thinking of making something red velvet the other day.

Alita
2 years ago

5 stars
This is perfect for Valentine’s. I always wanted to make or bake something on the love month

Beth
2 years ago

I’m such a huge fan of brownies and red velvet. I think they are a great combination.

Brianne
2 years ago

5 stars
Chewy and delicious Red Velvet Brownies, with or without cream cheese frosting, are a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert! Thanks for sharing this

bill
2 years ago

5 stars
These homemade brownies will give you everything you love about traditional fudge brownies. My family loved it.

khoingn | The Broad Life

Looks yummy for the V day. Thanks for the recipe! I may try to make one.

Millie
2 years ago

These look so pretty and delicious! I’m not sure why anyone would need to know how to store them. They would not last an hour at my house! Lol

Elizabeth
2 years ago

5 stars
This is perfect for any time, not just on Valentine’s. I’m making this for my family.

Subarna
2 years ago

5 stars
Ohh my God , this looks so tempting. Red velvet is my favourite. And that too with cheese cream. Perfect for valentine’s day.

MELANIE EDJOURIAN
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
2 years ago

5 stars
Oh wow, these sound amazing. I’ve only had the cake and cupcakes. I would love to try red velvet brownies.

Rosey
Rosey
2 years ago

I’ve never heard of red velvet brownies. Sounds good to me though!

Fransic verso
Fransic verso
2 years ago

Wow, this looks so yummy, love the toppings and the bottom. It mixes pretty well can at

Ntensibe Edgar
2 years ago

Hhhhmmmm….just the perfect brownies I love looking at!