Salute to Shortcuts(Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Icing)
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Red Velvet cake is a Southern standard. Aside from the stunning color, the cake blends powerful flavors that mingle and mesh like old friends at a high school reunion ,to make a spectacular, unforgettable eating experience.
Chocolate, buttermilk, vinegar and vanilla are responsible for transforming a good cake into something as treasured as a teacher’s pet.
Instead of a traditional cake, I thought Red Velvet Brownies would be nice. I wanted to take advantage of a shortcut and use a premium brownie mix. I don’t use a tremendous amount of convenience foods. Most of my cooking is from scratch. But it’s my opinion that a premium brownie mix is just as good as homemade.
Simply adding red food coloring to a brownie recipe doesn’t give it authentic status. Red Velvet Cake has a particular flavor that can only be achieved by recognizing buttermilk, vinegar and vanilla as honored guests at the party.
I used special vinegar I made several weeks ago from blackberries and lavender. This lovely lady had been waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to get all dressed up. I keep the bottle sitting in my kitchen window so I can see it everyday. The color is ravishing. I’ll use it to make a vinaigrette for a green salad that has added fruit, too. Don’t feel like you need to go to the trouble of making lavender blackberry vinegar. Use whatever you have on hand. Or sitting in your kitchen window.
Grab a box of brownie mix and get started on a journey to bliss. The trip is nice and easy and rewards are smooth as velvet.
Y’all come see us!
Red Velvet Brownies
Using a boxed brownie mix makes these delights almost effortless.
For brownies:
1 box premium brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker Original Supreme Premium Brownie Mix with Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup)
1 ounce red food coloring
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1 egg
Place brownie mix in bowl. Add chocolate syrup included in mix. In small bowl, mix remaining ingredient and add to bowl with brownie mix. Stir until blended well.
Pour mix into an 8×8 that has been oiled and floured or sprayed with Baker’s Joy.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until tooth pick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean. Let cool in pan.
For icing:
1 (8 ounce package) cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream butter and cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Add vanilla and slowly add powdered sugar. Mix until blended.
Spread on brownies while still in the pan.
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These beauties from a box? Where do I sign up!
Perfect for the 4th celebration.
Thanks, Maureen!
I’m getting in the van now!!!!
Jean,
You’re cracking me up! You’re a mess!
I love me some red velvet cake, I am definitely trying this recipe! How simple and I know if Jackie posted it, it has to be delicious!
Trish,
Tyler sure did love this! Let me know what you think.
Jackie, these are gorgeous. I have never heard of red velvet brownies. I’m in love. Happy 4th to you!
Thanks! Happy 4th!
These sound and look sooooooo goooood!!!! Wish I had some of your special vinegar, I’ll have to make do with what I have on hand, because I’ll be making these soon. Thanks for sharing. Have a great and safe 4th of July.
Mary,
I hope you enjoy! I’d love to be able to share some of my special vinegar with you.
Happy 4th!
There is something special about brownie mix, some get so moist. What a fun recipe, people would totally dig this flavorful recipe:-) Hugs, Terra
Terra,
I think brownie mix is one of the best convenient items out there.
Thanks for stopping by!
cute and festive!
Thanks, Dina! So glad you stopped by.
These look so good
CJ,
Thanks so much!