Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Icing
Red Velvet Desserts have always been my daughter’s favorite. Katie has requested red velvet cake or cupcakes for her birthday numerous times, so I knew she’d love a batch of these Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Icing!
This Red Velvet Brownies Recipe is made from scratch and the rich White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting pushes it over the top!
Why You Must Make
- They’re an easy way to get your red velvet fix!
- There’s almost as much cream cheese frosting as brownie in every bite!
- The color makes them fun for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and even patriotic holidays if you add a few blue or red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Katie loves anything red velvet. The hubby does not. I think he expected more chocolate flavor when he first tasted one of my red velvet cupcakes. He’ll still eat them, mind you, but would much rather have a devil’s food version with chocolate buttercream.
The minimal amount of cocoa powder is the reason Katie is such a fan, and why Bill is not. So to balance out all the lava cakes of late, I whipped up a batch of red velvet brownies. The Queen of the House, as she is known around here, loves special treats just for her.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the ingredients for the red velvet brownies, then the white chocolate buttercream.
- Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Eggs, Flour Salt, Milk
- Butter – Salted butter is fine, have it at room temperature for easy incorporation.
- Vanilla – Make sure it’s real vanilla extract, not artificially flavored.
- Cocoa Powder – I use Ghirardelli cocoa powder. Use regular cocoa powder not Dutch process.
- Red Food Coloring – A one-ounce bottle has two tablespoons of food coloring.
- Powdered Sugar – Sift for smooth frosting.
- White Chocolate – I chop, then melt a Ghirardelli bar in the microwave.
Brownie Ingredients
Frosting Ingredients
How to Make
- Cream together butter and sugar, then mix in eggs.
- Add the red velvet paste and mix in dry ingredients.
- Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake and cool
- Make the white chocolate frosting, spread it over cooled brownies, and dig in!
Expert Tips
- PRO-Tip: Have your butter and eggs at room temperature for easier incorporation.
- This recipe uses 2 tablespoons of red food coloring! That is typically a one-ounce bottle.
- Sift your powdered sugar for the smoothest frosting.
- For the best white chocolate flavor, use a bar of white chocolate, like Ghirardelli. The frosting will taste better than if made with white chocolate chips (but they are definitely a viable substitute.)
- PRO-Tip: To cut clean slices, chill your brownies, then use a hot knife to cut. I dip my knife into a glass of extremely hot water, dry it off, then cut. Bring the brownies back to room temperature to serve.
- If you’d like fluffier icing, add a little more milk to make the frosting softer and of piping consistency. The recipe below will make the denser frosting seen in these photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
The definition of a brownie is a “small square of rich chocolate cake, usually containing nuts.” Well, I think that answers that!
These red velvet brownies are neither brownies nor blondies, which are pale cookie bars, but instead just plain ol’ cookie bars. There is a smidgen of cocoa powder, but not enough to make them a true chocolate dessert. My husband will confirm this!
First, and foremost, they need some sort of red coloring. These brownies have a healthy dose of red food coloring, but other red velvet recipes utilize ingredients like beet juice for a more natural dye.
Though dark in appearance, a red velvet dessert only has a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to darken and deepen the red velvet color versus giving it a chocolate taste.
In most red velvet recipes, there’s also some vinegar added to the batter which interacts with the cocoa and buttermilk to work some magic baking chemistry. This trio of ingredients brings out the red anthocyanin in cocoa powder, thus enhancing the red color.
These brownies contain neither vinegar nor buttermilk, but they’re still a very obvious red color!
You May Also Like:
- Red Velvet Marble Cake Recipe from Grandbaby Cakes
- Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies from Tidy Mom
- Gooey Red Velvet Brownie Cake from Beyond Frosting
- Red Velvet Checkerboard Cake
- Red Velvet Fudge
- Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- All my Best Dessert Recipes
Red Velvet Brownies Recipe
Irresistible red velvet brownies smothered in a thick layer of white chocolate icing.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
Frosting::
- ½ cup butter, at room temperature
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 ounces white chocolate, melted
- ½ tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line 8 x 8 pan with nonstick foil or regular foil. Grease regular foil with cooking spray if using.
- In a small bowl, mix cocoa powder, food coloring, and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla to form a paste. Set aside.
- With a mixer, cream butter, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, then add the second teaspoon of vanilla. Then beat in cocoa paste. Add flour and salt, and mix just until combined.
- Spread in pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before frosting.
- Cream butter with a mixer till fluffy. Add vanilla. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, then white chocolate. Add enough milk to reach desired consistency. Frost the cooled brownies.
Notes
For the cleanest slices, chill, cut, then serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 brownieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 141mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 0gSugar: 40gProtein: 3g
86 Comments on “Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Icing”
These look so pretty. I’ve never thought to make a red velvet brownie. The color makes it look enticing. (Is there a step missing in #5?)
Oh so delicious!!
I’m sorry Liz, but I gotta agree with Hubby, I just don’t get this red velvet craze. Although, your brownies are absolutely gorgeous! You must really be a perfectionist, those squares are perfect! You have a very lucky family.
I think the queen of the house deserves these, because they look soooo incredible! And soooo perfectly cut! You put us all, rustic bakers,l to shame Liz. lol
I’m in Tokyo and need to get to bed to attend 2 cooking classes tomorrow. But I sneaked a peek at your post and of course was hooked – happily =)
Red Velvet is so popular in cake form but I’ve not seen the beauties as brownies. I would definitely like to try your delightful concoction upon a return to the US.
P.s. How nice that your daughter gets treated like a royal.
OMG these look incredible. Red velvet brownies? You are so creative.
I’m sitting down on the Queen’s side of the fence. These look absolutely perfect. I even like the thought of the more dense frosting as well. They’re perfect.
Dear Lizzy, It is so nice to visit with you. I don’t have my kitchen back yet but I am enjoying visiting. I miss my circle of friends and am very grateful for your visits and encouraging comments. Thank you. It means so much when your heart is hurting to know you are all there
These red velvet brownies look wonderful. I am sure they were.
Blessings my dear and xoxo, Catherine
these are so gorgeous! that white chocolate icing looks especially divine!
Gorgeous! All the white chocolate icing makes me reallyyyy happy 🙂 You always see red velvet cake or cupcakes – such a great idea for brownies, these woulda been perfect to bring to the office for valentine’s day!
Wow – these look amazing!! I’m so glad I am a new follower and get to see all these wonderful recipes you post……you are amazing Lizzy!
I’ve been loving red velvet cake for many years, in it’s humble 13×9 inch pan roots. You have elevated it to a whole new status. Not a surprise for those of us who know and love you. 😉
Oh, Mary, you are such a dear friend! Thanks for all your support. xo
Gorgeous, I’m glad you re-did this because I’m one who missed the original. What a great idea to make brownies!
Wow Lizzy… So perfectly baked! So neatly cut… Beauty!
These look so amazing. I love the contrasting colours. How wonderful must that icing be – love white chocolate icing. And I didn’t know you are one of five girls! I’m one of five girls! We have so much in common xx
Oh, I’m so in love with the pics of these brownies 🙂
Lizzy, I totally love these brownies. But sadly am on a diet, ate too many goodies during Chinese New Year and it’s payback time. Sobs!
Lizzy , these delightful brownies are just perfectly delicious 😀
Lizzy these are perfectly beautiful. I really want to come eat treats at your house some day. And I don’t believe it but I have totally missed the Red Velvet craze–is there time for me to hop on the Red Velvet bandwagon??
I totally missed the macrame craze in the 70’s, I waited a couple of months and it was gone! I do think Red Velvet will be around a bit longer. I think this will be the recipe I make!!
These look like red velvet perfection! I love the white chocolate icing.