Red Velvet Brownies Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Our fudgy red velvet brownies are rich and delicious! They have a beautiful, deep red color and are topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. You may also like our classic red velvet cake recipe or red velvet cookies made with cake mix.

6 red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting sitting on parchment paper

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These red velvet brownies are really easy to make. Just throw everything in a large bowl, mix, and bake!

Make a frosting with simple ingredients like cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lots of vanilla. You can also add some mix-ins like white chocolate chips or do a little cheesecake swirl in the batter before baking.

Our red velvet brownies are really sweet and rich. They're thick, dense, and fudgy—not cakey. I honestly love them with or without the frosting!

We hope you love this red velvet brownies recipe as much as we do! Be sure to also check out more of our soul food dessert recipes.

What we love about homemade red velvet brownies

Fudgy texture: These brownies are chewy and fudgy, not cakey. That first bite just melts in your mouth.
Easy to make: These one-bowl brownies are super simple! Even a beginner baker can make this recipe.
Classic cocoa flavor: If you like red velvet, then you will LOVE these brownies. The flavor is so rich and delicious.

4 eggs, bowl of all purpose flour, bowl of vegetable oil, bowl of sugar, stick of unsalted butter, bowl of brown sugar, bag of ghiradelli 100% cocoa powder, pinch bowl of white vinegar, pinch bowl of corn starch, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt

Ingredients

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Unsalted butter: Melted butter, or at least softened to room temperature, so that it mixes well with the sugars and oil.
Sugar: This recipe uses both white granulated sugar and brown sugar (either light or dark brown sugar). We like to use both for flavor.
Vegetable oil: Helps give these brownies their fudgy texture. Canola oil is a great substitute.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: For that classic red velvet flavor.
Cornstarch: Adds moisture to the brownies so they're nice and fudy.
Red gel food coloring: We used AmeriColor Super Red Soft Gel Paste. It's an oil-based food coloring, and you only need a few drops to get bright red color. If using liquid food coloring, you may need to double the amount to get these brownies a deep red color.
Distilled white vinegar: Works with the red food coloring to create that beautiful red color. You can't taste it!
Eggs + egg yolk: Adds moisture, richness, and binds everything together.
All-purpose flour: Be sure to measure with a kitchen scale for accuracy.
Mix-Ins (optional): Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or cream cheese swirl can be added to the brownie batter before baking.

Cream cheese frosting

4 ounces cream cheese
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Tools and Equipment

An 8- or 9-inch square pan: This Fat Daddio aluminum square cake pan is our favorite.
Parchment paper to line the pan and prevent sticking
Nonstick cooking spray for greasing
Hand mixer or stand mixer is helpful to make the cream cheese frosting

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How to Make Red Velvet Brownies

Detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1. Preheat oven to 335°F and line a square cake pan with parchment paper greased with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2. Melt butter in a large mixing bowl.

white and brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract being mixed with melted butter

Step 3. Stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt being added to butter and sugar mixture

Add cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt.

butter mixture thoroughly combined in mixing bowl

Stir well combine.

4 eggs and extra yolk being whisked into batter

Step 4. Add eggs and extra egg yolk.

red food coloring being whisked into batter

Step 5. Whisk in food coloring.

Step 6. Fold in flour.

brownie batter fully combined in mixing bowl.

Be careful not to overmix.

Red Velvet brownie batter poured into parchment lined baking pan

Step 7. Pour brownie batter into the prepared pan.

Step 8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

adding cream cheese frosting to red velvet brownies with a black silicone spatula

Step 9. Remove from the oven and let the brownies cool completely before frosting.

Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

Add a cream cheese frosting to your red velvet brownies!

softened butter and cream cheese in a glass mixing bowl

Step 1. Beat cream cheese and butter (both softened to room temperature) together until it's smooth and creamy.

blending butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer

It's helpful to use a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.

adding powdered sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture

Step 2. Add 3 cups powdered sugar, a little bit at a time, while mixing on low speed until incorporated. Once all the sugar is added, increase the speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

beating vanilla extract into frosting mixture

Step 3. Add vanilla extract and mix again until well combined. Taste and adjust with more powdered sugar or vanilla, if desired.

Tips for the Best Fudgy Brownies

Use room temperature ingredients, especially eggs and butter, because it makes it easier to mix everything.
Remember that gel food coloring is more concentrated than liquid, so you don’t need as much to get a deep red velvet color. If you opt for liquid food coloring, you may need to use more.
Make sure thee brownies have cooled down completely before you add the cream cheese frosting, otherwise, the frosting will melt and get all runny.

3 red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting stacked on top of each other

Commonly Asked Questions

What does vinegar do in red velvet brownies?

Vinegar in red velvet brownies adds a little tanginess, which helps balance the sweetness and makes the flavor better. It also helps give the brownies their soft and tender texture.

What's the difference between regular brownies and red velvet brownies?

Red velvet brownies are similar to regular brownies but have a red color and a slight tangy flavor from vinegar. These also have a cream cheese frosting, which makes them similar to traditional red velvet cake.