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A few months ago my mom said, “Isn’t Jannine the one who likes red velvet cake? Let me know when her birthday is because I have a recipe I want to try out.” The recipe was red velvet brownies, and lucky us that work with Jannine, her birthday was this week. My mom actually tripled the recipe, because she asked if I wanted to feed an army, and since I’m no dummy (I know how good of a baker my mom is and I know what bottomless pits my co-workers are) I said yes. Unfortunately, I have no pictures. 
These are gorgeous brownies…picture what a raspberry swirl cheesecake might look like and you’ve got the topping. The brownie itself is that pretty red velvet color. Just google images for red velvet swirl brownies and you can see for yourself.
And holymarymotherofgod are these suckers GOOD. Although one co-worker commented that we probably all gained 3 pounds after eating them. But it was Jannine’s birthday, so it was for a good cause.
Red Velvet Swirl Brownies (recipe adapted from Sunny Anderson at the Food Network)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, for pan
Brownie Layer:
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Topping:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan, and set aside.
Brownie layer: In a pan on medium heat melt the butter. Remove the butter to a large bowl and add the sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar, in that order, mixing between additions. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and stir it into the cocoa mix. Fold in the flour until lightly combined. Stir in the pecans and pour batter into the prepared baking pan, saving 1/4 cup of the batter for the top.
Cream cheese layer: Blend together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter in the pan. Dollop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer. Using the tip of a knife, drag the tip through the cream cheese mixture to create a swirl pattern. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting.
Final thoughts: If you love red velvet cake, you must try these brownies. They’re so much better. They’re still dense and filling, but since there’s no oil in the cake, and no confectioner’s sugar in the frosting, you don’t get that “that was so good but I feel sick” feeling that you (or at least I do) get after eating the cake. And they’re more chocolaty tasting than the cake. Once again, everyone loves my mom.
Thank you, thank you, Mom! (is she “adult beverage”?) These look outstanding. This is going in my collection — who wouldn’t love these.
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Please tell your that my birthday is in November.
oh, the niece would LOVE these…must make a batch.
maybe a single batch..lol
My birthday is in February! These look drool worthy!!!
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I love red velvet cake, and have wanted to try baking some. But these brownies sound even better. I am also willing to put on a few pounds for a good cause
. Thanks for the recipe!
I love red velvet cake. I’ll have to try these!
You can find my WC HERE
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You MUST share your mom!!!
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Yum, those look delicious! Also, Beth’s comment about your mom being the “adult beverage” made me snort and almost spit my tea on my laptop.
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Oh my!!! These sound totally delish!! Too bad we’re starting a healthy eating regimen and brownies are on the nono list for a while.
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I love Red Velvet Cake too but these look so good. The main thing that appeals to me about this recipe is that it makes only a small pan and then I’m not stuck with a whole cake. I’m giving it a try for Valentine’s day (my usual day for a Red Velvet Cake).
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I gained 3 pounds just reading this recipe!! My firstborn’s bf loves red velvet cake…I made his bday cake this year and bet he would love me more than his own mother if I made these lip smackers for him
Yum!
I snorted at the “adult beverage” remark as well
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I made red Velvet cake in December and was quite pleased.
http://conestogo.blogspot.com/2010/12/red-velvet-cake-with-cream-cheese.html
I am looking forward to trying this recipe. Thanks.
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This sounds awesome! Could your mom be convinced to make some for my birthday? It’s at the end of March (just over two months after my shoulder surgery)
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um, would it be bad if i just settled down with a bowl of the icing???
Red Velvet cupcakes are my favourite but I had absolutely no idea how to make them. I am so going to try this recipe after I get my oven fixed and can bake again!
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I’ve already bookmarked this after your email but I must have missed the part about cream cheese frosting. YUM!!!
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These sound quite tasty.
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Ooh, these sound so good! I love the idea of a red velvet brownie, and it seems like these would be a huge hit at my house. Thanks for sharing this one, Jill. I am going to be giving these a try.
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