Red Velvet Brownies (Recipe Inspired by THE DEAD GIRLS CLUB)

I’m kinda in love with these Red Velvet Brownies.

That deep crimson color? That cream cheese frosting swirl? Hand over a plate of these tasty treats, and I guarantee you no one will be disappointed.

Let’s talk a little bit about how I arrived at this book-inspired recipe for The Dead Girls Club.

To me, brownies are reminiscent of pre-teen slumber parties, where you’d stuff your face with tons of junk food, then ride the sugar high with your friends until about 4am. Brownies were a sleepover staple when I was growing up; they’re easy to whip up, don’t take much time to bake, and you can eat them right out of the pan.

Since The Dead Girls Club has a lot of slumber party activity, I figured brownies were the perfect dessert to pair with this read.

And, I decided to make these Red Velvet Brownies as an homage to the Red Lady, who creepily stalks the characters in The Dead Girls Club. So, really, these are Red LADY Velvet Brownies.

See what I did there?

Um….also? The Red Lady’s victims are found with dirt in their mouths, and, well…okay, this is gonna be gross, but here it is: ever looked at a half-eaten brownie in your mouth?

Yup. Looks like dirt. It ain’t pretty, but it’s the truth. And that’s how we ended up with Red Velvet Brownies for The Dead Girls Club.

So! If you’re still with me, let’s talk about Red Velvet Brownies!

Which are delicious and chocolatey. The inside is soft and fluffy, while the tops have that awesome crackly crust when you bite into them.

Of course, my tried and true brownie recipe served as the base, and I added two essential ingredients to make them Red Velvet: red food coloring and (wait for it) a dash of white vinegar.

Don’t worry; you don’t taste the vinegar at all in the brownies; it just gives the batter a little extra zhuzh and really drives home the classic red velvet flavor.

What I love best about these Red Velvet Brownies is that they still look like brownies.

They aren’t Play-Doh red, which is how most Red Velvet goodies turn out. Their deep cocoa color shines through with just a hint of red, making the brownies look rich and inviting instead of fake.

Since brownies – even Red Velvet Brownies – can look a little dull on their own, dolloping a lil’ cream cheese frosting on each square makes them irresistibly adorable.

I’m usually a purist when it comes to brownies — not nuts, no glaze, no nuttin’ — but I have to admit: I loved the frosting on these Red Velvet Brownies. The sweetened cream cheese really brings out the slight tang of the red velvet.

But, honestly, no matter how you serve them, Red Velvet Brownies are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Blogger’s Note: These photos were taken using the Beechwood surface from Replica Surfaces. I’m a Replica Surfaces Ambassador! Click on http://replicasurfaces.com/awellreadtart (affiliate link) to learn about this favorite brand of mine. 

Red Velvet Brownies

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings 16 brownies

Ingredients

  

RED VELVET BROWNIE INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
• 1 tbsp liquid red food coloring
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

Instructions

 

RED VELVET BROWNIE INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Spray an 8x8 pan with baking spray and line with parchment, then set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and granulated sugar. Whisk vigorously until completely blended, then vigrously whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Mixture should be thick and bright yellow.
• Add 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, distilled white vinegar, and red food coloring, and whisk vigorously until ingredients are completely combined and mixture is bright red. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
• Sift dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in small amounts, gently stiring with a wooden spoon or spatula between additions until all ingredients are completely combined.
• Pour red velvet brownie batter into prepared baking pan. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out clean.
• Remove brownie pan to wire rack. Let brownies cool completely before cutting and/or frosting. Serve with Cream Cheese Frosting (see below) if desired.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large bowl, beat together the 4 tbsp softened butter and softened cream cheese using a hand-mixer or stand-mixer until completely combined.
• Beat the confectioner's sugar into the mixture, bit by bit, until frosting is thick but spreadable.
• Beat in the 1/4 tsp vanilla extract until combined.
• Spread or pipe Cream Cheese Frosting onto cooled Red Velvet Brownies. Store frosted brownies and leftover frosting in the refrigerator.