Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting.
This recipe has been a loooong time coming.
Like, it seems as if it has taken me forever to perfect it.
Note the dramatic-ness. Mr. How Sweet says I’m too dramatic. I can’t not share my dramaticness with you.
I’ve been attempting to make a red velvet brownie from scratch for months. It is quite the feat since red velvet isn’t technically “just chocolate” and isn’t just a chocolate cookie, cake or cupcake dyed red. True red velvet connoisseurs know that red velvet treats have just the slightest hint of cocoa. That’s what I finally mastered – a chewy, dense brownie with a hint of chocolate!
I adapted my oooey, gooey brownie recipe (also used for brownie cupcakes) for red velvet success – after about 30 failed attempts. And I added chocolate chips because, well… I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t add additional chocolate and calories.
Or top it off with even more chocolate.
That would be white chocolate buttercream.
That would be my livelihood.
That would be my soul in bowl.
That would also be a surefire way to gain ten pounds.
You know how you guys always ask me what happens to my baked goods? Well, I’ll tell you what happened on Saturday. My brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin came over Saturday afternoon just as I was finishing up some baking. Which meant that within minutes, I plopped down two pans of chocolate chip cookie cinnamon rolls, a 9 x 13 baking dish full of pierogi casserole, and this big square of red velvet brownies… that were still warm. Can you spell GLUTTON FEST?
Mr. How Sweet came home, and in true Mr. How Sweet fashion decided he was on a plain chicken, egg whites, and diet Coke diet. After about six hours of nagging, I convinced him to try a red velvet brownie, then I watched him promptly hit the floor in ecstasy. I’m such a good influence.
But I ended up giving the rest to my brother to take home the next day, because red velvet brownies aren’t exactly on the plain chicken and egg whites and diet Coke diet. Right?
Wrong. Mr. How Sweet had a mini tantrum that I gave said brownies away. That man gives me more mixed signals now than he did when we first met and he talked with his hands, wore only Dolce & Gabbana and knew more about fashion than I did.
He asked me to make the brownies again this weekend, so guess what I’m doing?
Red Velvet Brownies
Ingredients
Red Velvet Brownies
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 2/3 cups chocolate chips, optional
White Chocolate Frosting
- 1 stick of butter, at room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces white chocolate, melted (I used Lindt)
- 1-2 tablespoons milk, or more if needed
Instructions
Red Velvet Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Butter and flour an 8 x 8 cake pan.
- In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to create a paste.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add remaining teaspoon of vanilla. With the mixer on medium speed, add in cocoa powder mixture. Beat until batter is completely red. (If at this time your batter is NOT red, you can add a little more food coloring if desired. Color will depend on brand.) Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Spread in the 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
White Chocolate Frosting
- Cream butter in an electric mixer until fluffy, then add vanilla. Slowly add in powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time with the mixer on low speed. Add in melted white chocolate and beat until incorporated. To reach desired consistency, add in milk 1 teaspoon at a time with mixer on low speed. If frosting becomes too liquidy, simple add additional sugar.
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I appreciate you so much!
Is it gluttony week around here or something? Sure seems like it.
327 Comments on “Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Frosting.”
Um…AMAZING! Also, we could eat that white chocolate frosting by the spoonful…it looks insanely fabulous! And yay for gluttony! We’re all for it…!
These look insanely good! I wish I had some right now to power through parent teacher conferences!
My oh my oh my!! Let it be gluttony YEAR(s), please :D
Those look so darn good! It’s like my two favorite chocolatey treats in one! :-D
This is all so hilarious. And TRUE!
“That would be white chocolate buttercream.
That would be my livelihood.
That would be my soul in bowl.”
Oh girl. You outdid yourself…wonderful!
They’re beautiful. And the frosting looks so fluffy!! So is red velvet cake your favorite dessert (I know…pick a favorite dessert is impossible…so how about one of your most favorites??)
It actually probably isn’t even one of my favorites… I like it, but I love tiramisu and cheesecake and rich desserts more.
Now thats what I am talkin’ bout!!!!!
One of these days, I shall give into the urge I’ve been dreaming about and make a buttercream purely to eat it all with a spoon. One day.
After making your red velvet cookies with white chocolate buttercream, I can’t imagine these wouldn’t be delicious! The brownies look great and I love that you have a super thick layer of icing!
You have outdone yourself…again!!
Since making those damn bacon cupcakes with the white chocolate ganche, I trust you with my life, those were epic. These brownies look like little squares of heaven.
Question about the food coloring, did you use the gel based stuff or just your plain old fashioned red food dye in liquid form?
I used the liquid. I think either can be used, it’s just going to depend on amounts. I suggest just adding a little at a time until desired color is reached. I have heard that adding too much can make it taste like chemicals, however I couldn’t taste anything like that and I grilled my recipe testers and they also said they couldn’t.
You are unstoppable this week!! These look AMAZING!!!
30 times until you got them right?! You are one devoted baker! These look and sound amazing! Can’t wait to try. :)
Every week is gluttony week in your house. These look wonderful!!! You amaze me.
YUM! Poor Mr. How Sweet.. He has it SO rough, right ? ;)
You’re my hero. You have no idea the infatuation I have with red velvet ANYTHING!
I think my mouth drops in awe and then drool slides out endlessly every time I open a post of yours.
Yum! That white chocolate buttercream sounds amazing! Did you experiment with any other types of frosting or did you know from the beginning how you wanted to frost it?
I didn’t, only because I’ve made frosting a million times and knew it would turn out. I didn’t decide on white chocolate until I perfected the brownie recipe. They would be delicious with cream cheese frosting, I just always have cream cheese with red velvet so I wanted to try something different!
I made these this evening and instead of 4oz of white chocolate, I used 2 oz melted semi-sweet chocolate chips and 2oz of cream cheese. Mmmmmmm they are so rich! Luckily for me I only ate 1/8 inch slices, which actually have NEGATIVE calories :-)
This would be perfect for my friend’s b-day!
I love you, but I’m pretty sure that it’s a good thing we don’t live in the same state. My butt appreciates the distance. This looks amazing.
Reading this post just gave me a cavity. I have such a sweet tooth, love this!
This looks awesome– AND, it’s so true! Red Velvet flavor is SO hard to nail down, but when you know it, you know it!
Oh JESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS my mouth is WATERING!!!!!
These look so awesome! I am PUMPED you took the time to perfect these. Awesome.
Wait? You thought I was European?
What an stellar recipe!! I’ve never had a red velvet brownie with white chocolate buttercream, but I can already tell that I’m going to love it!
ive never had white chocolate buttercream but it sounds beyond amazing
I’m all about icing and that icing looks and sounds amazing! It is so fluffy!
Looks absolutely decadent! Love the layer of red velvet in there and the white frosting on top just makes it “pop!” I may have to make some of these this weekend! Woot!
if it is gluttony week i kind of don’t want it to stop…i never dreamed a red velvet brownie could be made and then my mind is blown!
I’m all for red velvet brownies (in fact, I made my own a couple months ago!), but that white chocolate frosting is just… intriguing. In a weight-gaining kind of way.
Haha! Love the story about Mr How Sweet and his chicken, egg white and Diet Coke diet! I think you’re an excellent influence. :) And whenever I see anything red velvet now, I always think of you!
Other things generally tempt me more than red velvet anything, but I have to admit that these look incredible! That white chocolate buttercream did me IN!
I always look for wow factor when I go to pot lucks or other places where I share food! This looks amazing! I will have to try it. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post.
Oh. My. Goodness. You managed to marry my favorite cake and my favorite dessert! I love you for real.
Did I just gain 10 pounds? YUM!
Get outta town with this! Love it!
Hahahaha your marriage never ceases to make me laugh.
Wow!!! These look amazing!! Also, my sister’s favorite cake is red velvet, and her birthday is coming up….might make these for her! =D
I love white chocolate. That frosting sounds amazing.
The buttercream just really tops it off (ha).
I’ve never had white chocolate buttercream, it looks so good!
Oh.my.GOD. Thank you, thank you. These look amazing!
they look delicious! and I was just wondering what you do with all your goodies (I dont know if I would be so nice as to give them away, though I would be 400 lbs haha)
I usually 1/2 or 1/4 most things I make – the answer is in my FAQs!
good idea! now i need to print a lot of recipes! haha
those look perfect! love the white choc. buttercream – yum.
OH MY G-D. THAT LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE BEST THING EVER. I can’t wait to find an excuse to make these!!!!!!!
What a coincidence! Just 5 days ago I made brownies with white chocolate buttercream! The brownie recipe was from King Arthur’s flour’s Deep-Dark Double Dutch Cocoa. Oh my goodness! I also added white chocolate chips.They were so good, I left a fork right in the pan!
It was worth the wait
I could seriously eat that frosting by the bowlful!
Haha, what a great story – I think Mr. How Sweet’s reaction to the brownies says it all. They look amazing, Jessica!