Red Velvet Brownies Recipe

Name: Easy Red Velvet Brownies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 cup butter; 2 cups sugar; ½ cup cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 ounce red food coloring; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 4 large eggs; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt; 8 ounces block cream cheese (room temperature); ½ cup butter (room temperature (1 stick)); 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Homemade Red Velvet Brownies are decadent fudgy brownies with a bright and beautiful red velvet color and taste!

A traditional red velvet cake has somewhat of a mysterious flavor and you certainly get that with this brownie recipe as well. Fudgy chocolate combined with the delicious buttery vanilla flavors that makes red velvet such a mystery.

This brownie batter is red, tinted by the red food coloring, and a splash of vinegar is added to brighten up the chocolatey cocoa powder.

Enjoy these brownies all on their own or top them with decadent cream cheese icing that is synonymous with the classic red velvet combo!

Why you’ll love this recipe!

Simple Recipe - Brownie recipes are pretty straightforward and simple.
Delicious and Fudgy - This recipe is all thats fudgy delicious in a brownie while giving you that red velvet cake flavor.
Perfect for holidays or a special treat - Looking for something red for your Valentine or at Christmas this is just the treat. Although, this is so good you'll be making it year round!

These red velvet brownies really are pretty easy to make. They may be pretty like a red velvet cake and look a little fancy, but don't let that make you hesitate for one minute! It is really a matter of mixing ingredients and baking.

No special techniques or tricks! Just straightforward simple brownies made a little special.

If you want to top them with cream cheese to really dazzle, that is super simple as well!

Red Velvet Brownie Ingredient Notes

You will likely find you have most of these ingredients in your pantry!

Butter: Unsalted or salted works fine. Unsalted butter is usually the standard in baking, but I must confess I use salted butter in my brownies. Melting the butter gives a chewier more fudge-like texture.
Sugar: Standard white granulated sugar is all you need.
Cocoa powder: Natural unsweetened or dutch process with work in this recipe. I usually make it with good old Hershey's or Ghirardelli Cocoa.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract will give you that vanilla taste you need in red velvet.
White distilled vinegar: Just a little for that red velvet magic.
Red Food Coloring: I keep it simple and use McCormick's in the bottle. It leaves no funny taste and really does the job of giving you red brownies.
Salt: I use kosher or sea salt. Just a little to balance the sweet.
Eggs: Large eggs at room temperature. Let the eggs incorporate evenly.
Flour: Simple all-purpose flour works great. You don't need anything fancy. Just make sure to fluff your flour in the container. Then spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off. Too much flour will result in dry brownies.

Image of red velvet brownie ingredients on a white tray with a red cloth napkin, a whisk, and a red spatula.

Icing Ingredient Notes

This recipe is delicious with or without cream cheese icing. To put a classic spin on red velvet make this simple frosting.

Cream Cheese: A block of cream cheese at room temperature works best. I like to get a good quality cream cheese, like Philadelphia. However, if your store brand has a good quality and isn't watery use that. Just don't get a tub or whipped. It is not the right consistency.
Butter: I use stick butter at room temperature. Not too soft though.
Powdered Sugar: This is also known as confectioners or icing sugar. It makes a smooth icing!
Vanilla: A good quality vanilla extract works well. It will slightly tint the icing and I don't mind that so that you get a great flavor. However, if you need a really white icing then go for a vanilla flavoring that is clear.

How to make Red Velvet Brownies

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!

Red velvet brownie batter step by step image collage.

Step 1 | Prepare Pan and Oven

Preheat oven to 350° and line baking pan with parchment paper with sides hanging over. Spray parchment paper and sides of the pan. If you don't have parchment paper spray the entire pan with cooking spray or butter or grease pan.

Step 2 | Mix ingredients

In a large bowl melt butter at 30-second intervals until melted. In another bowl beat eggs until just combined. Add cocoa, sugar, vanilla, food coloring, and vinegar to butter and mix.

Pour in eggs and mix until combined.

Add in flour and fold in with a spatula until just combined. Then pour into prepared pan.

Step 3 | Bake

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until done and toothpick comes out mostly clean.

Let completely cool

Step 4 | Add icing if desired

For icing/frosting beat softened butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy.

Add in powdered sugar and vanilla. I like to add in the powdered sugar a cup at a time so that it doesn't get everywhere. Start mixing slow and then turn up to medium until combined.

Cream Cheese Icing step by step image collage.

Tips

Do not over mix the batter. This will put more air in the batter and they won't be as fudgy in texture. If you want a more cake like brownie really whip the eggs to incorporate more air. For a fudgy browny light whip the eggs.
Don't overbake. This is so important if you want a chewy fudge-like brownie.
If your oven cooks unevenly, about 15 minutes into the cook time just rotate the pan for an even bake.
Fully cool your brownies before you cut them for nice beautiful slices.
Want to make a smaller batch? Cut the recipe in half and bake in an 8 X 8 pan. Just check at the 20 minute mark. They really will likely cook in the same timeframe as this recipe, since you are using a smaller pan.

Red velvet brownie frosted with cream cheese icing and white sprinkles stacked at an angle on top of another brownie.

FAQ's

Can I use a chocolate baking bar instead of cocoa powder?

Yes, you can. Use a 4 ounce of bittersweet chocolate baking bar. Just chop and melt in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Then mix in with sugar and butter mixture in place of the cocoa.

What is the best way to cut red velvet brownies?

Using a warm sharp blade or bench/dough scraper works great.
Let the brownies completely cool. You can even chill in the refrigerator for even more even slices.

Can I use gel red food coloring?

Yes, start with about 1 ½ teaspoons and add up 3 teaspoons depending on desired color.

Variations and Substitutions:

Use green food coloring and make these for St. Patrick's Day!
Add 1 cup of white chocolate chips to the batter instead of frosting them.
You can warm the brownies and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a really sweet treat! Add a dollop of whipped cream and then drizzle with a little chocolate or caramel to put them over the top.
These are also delicious as Red Velvet Brownie Cups or Bites.
For Halloween drizzle on some red food coloring or gel icing and some edible eyeball or Halloween eyeball candies. You can even place toy spider rings or any spooky candy.

Sliced red velvet brownies with icing and sprinkles on a white tray.

Storing:

Storage:

If you are not icing the brownies they can be stored at room temperature for 3 days.
If icing they need to be stored in the refrigerator. Iced or uniced brownies can be store in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.

Freezing:

Brownies will freeze well for up to 2 months.

Double wrap these red velvet brownies with freezer safe wrap, or single wrap and place in a freezer-safe zip bag. Brownies may be frozen whole or in individual slices.
Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Overhead view of red velvet brownies scattered on a tray.

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Red Velvet Brownies Recipe

Why you’ll love this recipe!

Red Velvet Brownie Ingredient Notes

Icing Ingredient Notes