Recipe: Red Velvet Valentine Brownies
I have always had this weird love for red velvet cake, mostly only because it is so colorful and bright, but I do love some good chocolate cake too. I have been scoping around for some good Valentine's Ideas, and obviously red velvet it a perfect choice. My inspiration came from Steak and Shake's Red Velvet Cake Milkshake (SOO awesome and tastes just like it) and also the box of red velvet pancake mix I spotted in the aisle at Walmart. So I decided to do it my own way, with a brownie creation topped with a cream cheese frosting, because I know my Valentine would appreciate that.
This would be one of those recipes that I would definitely whip out over and over again, because it is very easy, as well as VERY tasty. It could also be doubled, but for the sake of our health, I decided to just make an 8x8 dish of brownies to share. It seems that all of my friends are on diets lately, so I can't think of anyone to give these things to. Darn. :)
Grab yourself some red food coloring, an apron (seriously, that food coloring goes everywhere) and get started! You won't be sorry...
Ingredients:
3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 oz red food coloring
2 t vanilla extract
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) at room temperature
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and Butter and flour an 8x8 baking pan.
Slowly stir together the cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 tsp vanilla into a small bowl. Stir until it becomes a thick paste with no lumps of cocoa powder and set to the side.
Beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy with a mixer for about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and mix well. Stir in the other 1 tsp of vanilla well and then the cocoa mixture. Make sure the mixer is turned off when you place the cocoa mixture in because you do not want that red dye flying all over your kitchen or your shirt. Mix together until the batter is one color, and then add in the flour on medium speed until just combined.
With a rubber spatula stir the batter around to make sure it is not sticking to the sides and the coloring and flour are fully incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 35 minutes give or take.
If you put a toothpick in the center of the brownies to check them, and it should come out clean.
While you are letting the brownies cool in the pan, you can make the frosting!
6oz Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
1/2 stick butter (4T) at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla extract
Mix the cream cheese and butter on medium speed until well combined and fluffy. Place the powdered sugar in gradually, stirring to combine after each small part, then adding more until you have reached all 3 cups. Add in vanilla, and beat until light and fluffy on medium speed.
You are going to want to lick the beaters.
Use the frosting to frost the brownies in the pan after they have cooled about 20-30 minutes and then serve, or let the brownies cool for over an hour, remove from the pan, and then frost them.
YUM. You will not be sorry for making these bad boys. They are a perfect Valentine's Day treat for anybody.
Tell me what you think about my recipe if you try it!
-Sara Jacqueline
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