Red Velvet Brownies

Two weeks into the new year and I’m still sticking to my resolutions. This is a record. 

For all you athletic people out there, you might be excited to hear that I got my first ever gym membership today. I was never really fond of the gym; mainly because I never really needed it. I only like doing cardio workouts so treadmills are all I would like to use at the gym, but I’m more of an outdoor runner. Secondly, the gym intimidates me. (I can now check off #5 on my list.) Everyone there is so fit and they know what they’re doing and how to work the machines. I am the complete opposite of that, sometimes I can’t even work the playstation and now I have to learn how to operate all this new unknown equipment?! No thank you. I went on the eliptical today because I have been craving for it. The whole time I was there, I tried to mask my newbie-ness by watching the food network and pretending that I was distracted by TV, not because I’m a newb. Oh yea, another thing, why was the food network on at the GYM?! It made me oh so hungry. 

Post-gym, I had a mad craving for one these babies: Red velvet brownies. Yepp, you heard correct. 

Red velvet browwnnnies. 

I made this last week to get a head start on the valentines baking. I love festive baked goods, so since I completely missed out on Christmas baking, I told myself I HAVE TO do something for the next holiday. 

These brownies tasted fairly similar to their cake counterpart, while I was hoping for a much more dense and fudge-like texture. Maybe I should’ve added the chocolate chips. Learn from my mistake and add the chocolate chips! 

After the photos were taken, I made a white chocolate buttercream that is ABSOLUTELY HEAVENLY. Everybody loved the icing, even more so than the brownie. The brownies are great on their own, but something magical happens when they are combined with the frosting. Fantasically magical. 

Red Velvet Brownies

Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons red food coloring

2/3 cups chocolate chips (optional, but recommended)

How To

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8 pan with aluminium foil

2. In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to create a paste.

3. 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. Now 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, mixing until just combined. Without a mixer, gently mix in the chocolate chips (if using).

4. Spread in the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

Source: How Sweet It Is