Skip to content

Moist and chewy red velvet brownies topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. This delicious dessert is easy to make, packed with flavor, and has a beautiful vibrant red color. 

Red velvet brownies stacked.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Easy Red Velvet Brownies Recipe

Brownies are everything I love in a dessert. Moist, fudgy, rich, and loaded with chocolate flavor. Traditional homemade brownies are usually my favorite, but this red velvet version is a new top contender. The chewy texture and tangy frosting are a match made in heaven!

These red velvet brownies are SO delicious! I’m such a sucker for brownies and this variation is a new favorite. They’re perfectly dense and chewy with a bold chocolate flavor from the cocoa powder. The rich cream cheese frosting is the perfect compliment on top and makes the dessert that much more decadent.

Although these red velvet brownies taste delicious year-round, the vibrant red color makes them especially perfect to serve as an easy Valentine’s Day dessert. Serve them as-is or add some fun Valentine’s sprinkles on top to jazz them up even more. Trust me, your sweetheart will swoon over this luxurious treat!

Recipe Ingredients

These ingredients are all pantry staples that are simple to mix together and make these delicious red velvet brownies. They are so easy to make and come together quickly. These red velvet brownies are seriously the best brownie mix!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Salted butter: Adds moisture and richness to the brownie batter and cake.
  • Sugar: Sweetness added in!
  • Eggs: This helps soften the baked cake and gives it a moist texture.
  • Red food coloring: Brings in rich color and helps when baking in case the color lightens up. Use gel food coloring for a richer color.
  • Vanilla extract: A teaspoon for extra flavor!
  • Flour: This will help build up the batter and give it structure when baking.
  • Cocoa powder: This is a hidden ingredient for the red velvet brownies! It adds a mild chocolate flavor and gives it the best cocoa flavor.

Homemade Frosting

In a small bowl, cream together the cream cheese mixture with powdered sugar. Once smooth, add in vanilla and mix until creamy. Once the brownies are cooled, frost the top of the fudgy brownies.

How to Make Red Velvet Brownies

These red velvet brownies are amazing! Every step is easy to make and comes together quickly. When you are in need of a quick brownie recipe, this is the one to make!

  1. Batter. Start by making the batter. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar, then mix in the eggs, red food coloring, and vanilla until combined.
  2. Mix. Pour in the flour and cocoa powder and continue mixing just until combined. Then pour the batter into a prepared baking pan.
  3. Bake. Bake in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. To test if the brownies are done, stick a toothpick in the center to make sure it comes out clean. Then transfer the pan to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  4. Frosting. Make the cream cheese frosting, then evenly spread it on top of the cooled brownies with a spatula. Then use a knife to cut them into 16 squares.

5 star review

“I made these for Valentine’s Day and they were a huge hit! So yummy.”

– Cara

Baking Tips + Variations

Here are some tips and variations to help make this cake even better and just the way you like it! Red velvet brownies are so simple to make that these modifications are not necessary but can be helpful to those that need them!

  • Chocolate chips. You can fold in 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips for more chocolate flavor.
  • Don’t over-mix. Mix just until combined. Overmixing causes the brownies to dry out.
  • Let cool. Although it’s tempting, make sure to let the brownies cool completely before enjoying them. Not only will the frosting melt if they are still warm, but the brownies might crumble.
  • Frosting. While the cream cheese frosting is by far my favorite, you may also use a classic buttercream, sour cream frosting, or marshmallow frosting. You can also leave off the frosting altogether if preferred.
  • Cheesecake swirl. Instead of the frosting, try adding a cheesecake swirl as I did with these cheesecake brownies.
  • Cutting. Use a plastic knife (instead of a silver knife) to cleanly cut the brownies into squares.
  • Doubling. You can double the recipe and cook in a larger 9×13″ pan if desired. They may need to bake a few minutes longer, so use the toothpick method to double-check that they are done.

FAQs

What are red velvet brownies made of?

Red velvet brownies are a unique flavor with cocoa powder and pantry staples. The ingredients blend together well and make a delicious dessert. .

What makes a brownie fudgier?

To make fudgy brownies, you need to have a higher fat-to-flour ratio compared to a cakey texture. Add in more fat if you are looking for more fudgy brownies. Adding in more butter and chocolate will help.

How can I make my brownies moister?

Instead of using water use milk for the liquid if it is instructed in the ingredients. Milk contains more fat and has more flavor than water.

What is red velvet flavor?

It is a very mild cocoa taste with a soft cake-like texture. Adding the cream cheese frosting is a balance of smooth, soft, moist, and decadent dessert.

Red velvet brownie close up.

Storage

Store your brownies in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the fridge. If you are storing it with the cream cheese frosting on top, store it in the refrigerator using plastic wrap overtop. That will avoid the cream cheese from sticking to the top of the lid.

More Delicious Brownie Recipes

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!

red velvet brownies stacked

Red Velvet Brownies

4.95 from 17 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Moist and chewy red velvet brownies topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. This delicious dessert is easy to make, packed with flavor and has a beautiful vibrant red color. 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cool time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 16

Ingredients 

Red Velvet Brownies

  • ½ cup salted butter , softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2-3 teaspoons liquid red food coloring
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (110 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder

Cream cheese frosting

  • ¼ cup salted butter , softened
  • 6 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9" baking pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside. Place the butter and sugar into a large bowl. Cream together with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes. Add in the eggs, red food coloring and vanilla. Mix just until combined.
  • Pour in the flour and cocoa powder and continue mixing just until combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and then bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove onto a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Frosting

  • Beat the butter and cream cheese in large bowl with an electric mixer. Slowly add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Add the vanilla and mix until smooth.
  • Once the brownies have cooled, frost the tops and then slice into 16 squares.

Notes

Storage: Store in a covered container for up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 438IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Let’s connect

Join our community of over 5 million!

Featured on

  • Taste of Home
  • Martha Stewart
  • Country Living
  • BuzzFeed
  • Yahoo
  • Food Network
  • Today