Red Velvet Brownies

Brownies

4 oz bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped

¾ cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1½ cup flour or 1½ cup Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF flour or 1½ cup of your favorite GF flour + 1 tsp xanthan gum

1 oz (1 bottle) red food coloring (See notes)

1½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp GF vanilla

Frosting

1 – 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

3 tbsp butter, softened

1½ cup powdered sugar

1 tsp GF vanilla

Lightly spray 9x13 inch pan with GF baking spray. Set aside.

Melt chocolate & butter together in heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. (Can also be done in microwave, in 30 second increments, stirring between each – be careful not to burn)

Mixing can be done by hand or with an electric mixer.

Pour chocolate mixture into large mixing bowl, whisk together with sugar. Add eggs, one at a time after each until thoroughly combined.

Add red food coloring (see notes) & vanilla. Gently stir until blended.

Whisk together flour & baking powder. Add to batter & mix until completely combined.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake at 350° for 40-55 minutes.

Remove pan, place on wire rack & cool completely.

 Frosting: Beat together cream cheese & butter until smooth & fluffy. Add powdered sugar & vanilla, beat until creamy.

Frost cooled brownies. Cut into squares to serve.

 Notes:

This recipe is adapted from therecipecritic.com/red-velvet-brownies-with-cream-cheese-frosting. Thanks Alyssa!

This is a great, simpler alternative to Red Velvet Cake. It’s less time consuming to make & you don’t have to worry about slicing, layering & frosting an entire cake! They are not the traditional texture of brownies, more of a cross between cake & brownies.

If you’ve never worked with red food coloring before – just be aware it can easily get everywhere & it does stain – clothes, skin, utensils, dish clothes & sponges, etc. Just be careful & wipe up right away if it gets on anything.