This recipe provides instructions for making decadent Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies, a delightful twist on classic brownies that combines the rich, slightly tangy flavor of red velvet cake with a creamy, smooth swirl of cream cheese. These brownies are not only visually appealing with their vibrant red hue swirled with white cream cheese, but they also offer a wonderful textural contrast between the fudgy brownie and the soft, cheesecake-like filling. Often topped with a glossy red glaze and chocolate chips or candies, these brownies are a perfect treat for special occasions, holidays, or any time you crave a luxurious and flavorful dessert. The combination of chocolate, a hint of tanginess, and creamy cheese makes these brownies utterly irresistible.
The base of these Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies is a rich and fudgy brownie batter, characterized by the inclusion of cocoa powder for chocolate flavor and buttermilk or vinegar (combined with milk) to create the signature slightly tangy “red velvet” taste and a moist texture. Red food coloring is essential for achieving the vibrant red hue that defines this dessert. The batter also typically includes ingredients like all-purpose flour, sugar, eggs, and melted butter or oil to provide structure, sweetness, and moisture. A touch of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor.
The cream cheese swirl is a simple yet impactful component. Cream cheese, softened to room temperature, is blended with sugar and often an egg yolk to create a smooth and creamy mixture. A hint of vanilla extract can also be added to the cream cheese swirl for extra flavor. This white swirl is then artfully incorporated into the red velvet brownie batter, creating a beautiful marbled effect that adds both visual appeal and a contrasting creamy texture and tangy flavor to the rich chocolate base.
To further enhance the visual appeal and add a glossy finish, these brownies are often topped with a red glaze. This glaze is typically made from powdered sugar mixed with a liquid such as milk or cream, a touch of light corn syrup for shine, and red food coloring to intensify the red velvet theme. The glaze is usually drizzled or spread evenly over the baked and cooled brownies.
Finally, the brownies are often adorned with chocolate chips or small red candies, adding a final touch of sweetness and decoration. The combination of the deep red brownie swirled with white cream cheese, topped with a glossy red glaze and chocolate accents, makes these Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies a truly stunning and delicious treat. They offer a unique flavor profile that blends the richness of chocolate with a subtle tanginess and a creamy cheesecake-like element, making them a memorable dessert for any occasion. The image shows a stack of three square red velvet cream cheese brownies on a wooden plate. Each brownie has a dark red base swirled with a lighter, creamy white cream cheese filling. The top of each brownie is covered with a glossy, translucent red glaze and adorned with a few small, round, dark red candies or chocolate chips.
The texture of Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies is a delightful combination of a fudgy, slightly dense brownie base and a smooth, creamy, and tender cream cheese swirl. The optional glaze adds a glossy, slightly sticky top layer, and the candies provide a firm, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
The flavor profile is a rich and complex blend of subtle chocolate notes from the red velvet brownie, a hint of tanginess that is characteristic of red velvet, and the creamy, slightly sweet, and tangy flavor of the cream cheese swirl. The red glaze adds a touch of sweetness, and the chocolate chips contribute a burst of chocolate richness.
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies are a decadent dessert featuring a fudgy red velvet brownie base swirled with a creamy cream cheese filling, often topped with a glossy red glaze and chocolate candies.
The preparation involves making a red velvet brownie batter with cocoa and buttermilk (or vinegar and milk), preparing a cream cheese mixture with sugar and egg yolk, swirling the cream cheese mixture into the brownie batter, baking until set, cooling, and optionally topping with a red glaze and chocolate candies.
Ingredients:
For the Red Velvet Brownie:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup buttermilk (or ½ cup milk + ½ teaspoon white vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Red Glaze (Optional):
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk or cream
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon red food coloring (or more, to desired color)
For Garnish (Optional):
- Red chocolate candies or chocolate chips
Equipment:
- 9×13 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper (for lining)
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer)
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Small saucepan (for melting butter)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small bowl (for glaze)
- Spoon or whisk (for glaze)
Instructions:
Part 1: Make the Red Velvet Brownie Batter:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Melt Butter and Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the cocoa powder, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and salt until the color is uniform.
- Add Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Prepare Buttermilk Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk (or milk and vinegar mixture).
- Combine Baking Soda and Vinegar: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and vinegar. The mixture will fizz. Quickly add this to the brownie batter and stir until just combined.
- Fold in Buttermilk: Gently fold in the buttermilk mixture into the batter until just combined.
Part 2: Make the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- Beat Cream Cheese: In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.
Part 3: Assemble and Bake the Brownies:
- Pour Brownie Batter: Pour the red velvet brownie batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Swirl in Cream Cheese Mixture: Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Use a knife or a skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the brownie batter, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached (but no wet batter). Be careful not to overbake, as this can make the brownies dry.
- Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting and cutting. Cooling thoroughly is important for clean cuts.
Part 4: Make the Red Glaze (Optional):
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk or cream, light corn syrup, and red food coloring until smooth and the glaze reaches a drizzling consistency. Add more liquid if it is too thick, or more powdered sugar if it is too thin.
- Glaze the Brownies: Once the brownies are completely cooled and cut into squares, drizzle or spread the red glaze evenly over the top.
- Garnish (Optional): While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle with red chocolate candies or chocolate chips, if desired.
- Set and Serve: Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for longer storage.
Enjoy these rich and visually stunning Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies! The combination of flavors and textures is sure to be a hit.