How do you celebrate Independence Day? It is such a festive summer holiday. People proudly display their patriotism with our nation's flags and colors. Family and friends gather for food and fun. Cookouts happen everywhere. Grills are fired up and tasty treats are made. One treat I like to bring to a cookout is red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting. All the deliciousness of a red velvet cake in little squares. Plus, the color works nice for the holiday with an added touch of blue decoration.
I will call my star decoration rustic. It is a nice way of saying I am lacking in decorating skills. I have a great admiration and respect for the people who decorate cakes perfectly. The piping bag is not my friend. I would use sprinkles except that I do not care for eating sprinkles. So rustic piped frosting it is for me. At least it reflects that it is homemade.
The brownies are moist with a bit of a top crust. I have made them a few times and each time the top does crack a little. It is okay because you cover the cracks with the frosting. I like the added texture. I found the recipe on the Smells Like Home blog. The recipe called for white chocolate buttercream but I have a slight allergy to white chocolate. I adapted it with cream cheese frosting. I also adapted the method to use a hand mixer.
Want more recipes for cookouts and the holiday? The Sunday Supper team of bloggers have an incredible list for you. I cannot wait to take a look at every single one. They all sound so good. Be sure to take the time to visit these wonderful blogs and check out all the recipes:
- Tender & Sweet Crockpot Brisket Juanita's Cocina
- Savory Patriotic Chicken Kabobs Big Bear's Wife
- Firecracker Salmon Rolls Comfy Cuisine
- Red, White & Blue Grilled Pizza Momma's Meals
- Baby Back Ribs with Balsamic Peach BBQ Sauce Damn Delicious
- Bubblin' Brown Sugar Baby Back Ribs In The Kitchen With KP
- Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Beef Mrs. Mama Hen
- Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Salad with Perfectly Grilled Chicken and Potatoes Daddy Knows Less
- Texas Smoked Brisket Doggie At The Dinner Table
- Grilled Chicken in a Blueberry BBQ Sauce Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Chicken Burgers with Curried Cabbage Slaw-Indian Soni's Food for Thought
- Finger Foods for the Fourth Pescetarian Journal
- Grilled Pork Satays with Peanut Sauce Tora's Real Food
Salads and Sides:
- Southwestern Corn and Black Bean Salad Supper for a Steal
- Roasted/Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Katherine Martinelli
- Patriotic Ranch Potato Salad The Meltaways
- Roasted Red Pepper & White Bean Salad Are you hungry
- Texas-Creole Crawfish Potato Salad The Weekend gourmet
- Spicy Italian Peppers in Sauce What Smells so Good?
- Sangria Fruit Salad Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Stuffed Black Olive Cookistry
- Mexican Quinoa Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing Dinners Dishes and Desserts
- Low Fat Pasta Salad Basic and Delicious
- Bean Salad with Pickled Vegetables Diabetic Foodie
- Fourth Sticks In the Kitchen with Audrey
- Tomato and Mozzarella Appetizer Family Foodie
- Red White & Blueberry Ricotta Cupcakes Sue's Nutrition Buzz
- Red Velvet Brownies Magnolia Days
- S'mores Pastries Daily Dish Recipes
- Red, White and Blue Firecracker Cupcakes Chocolate Moosey
- Caramel-filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream The Messy Baker
- Strawberry and Cream Cake Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- White Chocolate Berry Tart Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Red White and Blue Coconut Rum Cake Family Spice
- Individual Red White and Blue Triffles Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence
- Mini Carrot Cakes Mama's Blissful Bites
- Plum and Apple Pies Cositas Bonitas
Join in the Sunday Supper 4th of July holiday conversation. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag on twitter. There will be a live chat 5:30 to 6:30pm Eastern Time today (Sunday, July 1st). Tweet your favorite holiday recipes or photos with the hashtag too. Follow the Sunday Supper Pinterest board for even more recipe and cooking inspiration.
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday? My plan is to have a relaxing day with family, friends, good food, and wine. Cheers!
Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the brownies:
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 ounces red food coloring
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick, at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 2 ½ cups confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- Half-n-half or milk as needed
Instructions
For the brownies:
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 X 8-inch square baking pan. Line the pan with parchment or non-stick aluminum foil. Grease and flour the parchment/foil. Set aside.
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In a small bowl, stir together the cocoa powder, food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until it is a smooth, thick paste without any lumps of cocoa. Set aside.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside.
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In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla and beat to combine. Add the cocoa mixture and beat on medium speed until combined and one uniform color. Slowly add the flour/salt mixture and mix on medium-low speed until combined. Do not overmix. Stir the batter with a rubber spatula to ensure the flour is thoroughly incorporated and the mixture is uniform in color.
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Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the center of the brownies. Remove the brownies from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool completely on the rack.
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Remove the brownies from the pan and place on a cutting board. Frost brownies with cream cheese frosting and cut into 16 squares. Refrigerate leftovers.
For the frosting:
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In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy. Add the vanilla and salt and beat until combined. With the mixer on medium-low, add the confectioners sugar ½ cup at a time and beat until combined. Add half-n-half or milk 1 teaspoon at a time and beat at medium speed until the frosting has reached desired consistency.
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Note: Reserve a small amount of frosting in a bowl if using for decorating in different colors. Add food coloring and stir to combine. Decorate as desired.
Recipe Notes
A recipe for red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting.
I nearly snorted at the rustic description , only because my decorating skills are probably considered primitive rustic at best ; ). The brownies look great and sound amazing!
Thanks Pam. I know I need to practice piping and decorating more. I suppose I focus on how it tastes and the homemade look is good for me.
Red velvet is sooo delicious. I love, love, love it! I really like how you made it 4th of July!!! Can't wait to add this to my list next week!
Thanks Amber!
I am no great shakes at decorating myself, but I bet these are delicious!
They do go fast. My family loved them.
Way to turn a classic into a 4th of July treat! LOVE this idea...and it looks delish, Renee!
Thanks so much Liz!
The red came out perfect! I´m with you on the piping bag skills. These brownies are the perfect thing for a 4th of july celebration. Who wouldn´t want one!
Thanks Paula!
I love cream cheese frosting, and I'm so fond of red velvet cake. This is a fitting dessert for July 4th--and I love the "rustic" decoration too!
Alaiyo
I also love cream cheese frosting. So rich and delicious.
I love brownies! I need to add this to my collection!
Thank you Cindy! I hope you will make them one day.
Gorgeous red velvet brownies.I also lack cake decorating skills,but your star looks really cute :)Perfect for the 4th of July 🙂
So sweet of you to say my star is cute. Thanks Soni!
ooh red velvet brownies are so good, but I haven't had them with the frosting, you just took it to another level Renee!
Thank Susan. The frosting does add an extra touch to the brownies.
These look fabulous...and I adore your rustic stars! My BIL loves red velvet, so need to make a batch next time he comes for a visit!!
I hope you do make them for your BIL. If you do, please let me know how he likes them.
First time here... very droolicious Cake, nice presentation..
-Mythreyi
Yum! Yum! Yum!
Thank you so much! I hope you come back to visit often!
YUM! DH keeps saying his is going to make red velvet cupcakes with DD. I may have to have him try this recipe instead.
Thanks Karen! Might as well make brownies instead of cupcakes. Something different for red velvet.
Although my kids don't like chocolate (I know, sin.) Daddy F's fav is red velvet. I think it's time for him to get a little treat! 🙂
Thanks! Yes, I agree...time for Daddy F to have a little treat.
I looooove the star! And I love these brownies! YUM!
Thanks Jen!
Renee, I love how delish these look! Love your cute little decoration, very creative and refreshing, how do you make a brownie look so moist in a picture! YUM!!
These brownies are that moist. I did not do anything special, all I did was take the photo in the nice natural light right after the sun rose in the morning.
You know I have always heard people talk about Red Velvet cake, but until now I had no idea what it was. Looks very tasty. Is there any other way to get the red colouring? I try to avoid using artificial food colouring in my baking.
I have seen some natural food coloring substitutes on the internet. I think you can also find them at Whole Foods.
That is just insane!!! I adore anything red velvet! Happy 4th of July!
Thank you Sarah!
These look so cute! And I don't think there's a thing wrong with your decorating skills, the start looks perfect!
Thank you Katy!
I have had these on my list of things to make for far too long! Yours look perfect, it might just push me to actually make them!
Thanks Erin! I hope you do make them because they are so yummy.
LOL! The piping bag is not my friend, too!
Thanks Laura! Thanks for admitting the piping bag is not your friend either. I do not feel alone with that anymore.
What a wonderful dessert! You know I'm game for anything involving red velvet, especially when more chocolate is involved!
Thanks! I agree on the chocolate too. I would not know what to do without it.
I don't think your stars are rustic at all! Now MY stars would be rustic 🙂
So sweet of you to say. I picked out one of the better ones for the photo. The rest were really "rustic".
I will definitely visit those blogs that you have listed here. And thanks for sharing the brownies recipe also. I would love to try that with my kids. It looks scrumptious.
Thanks Barbara!
I love your rustic star!! And I like sprinkles, but it would totally ruin red velvet. And always cream cheese with red velvet!
Thanks Brianne! Yes, I agree - red velvet does need cream cheese frosting.
Your brownie are the real deal my friend. I wish I had one right this minute!!! And never mind the decorating, i'm not so hot at it either. I know others might disagree but taste is everything!
I have yet to attempt the red velvet variety of brownie. Guess I better get baking 🙂
Have a wonderful holiday!
Thank you Kathy!
Love your personal rustic touch of the blue star! Perfect for patriotic holidays (and not something I would've thought of!). I'm with you on decorating. Piping cupcakes, no problem. Decorate a cookie or a regular-sized cake? Yeaaaaa.
Thanks Carla!
These are so beautifully patriotic and delicious my friend - very awesome 😀
Cheers
CCU
really nice and just in time for tomorrow. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Peter!
These sound delicious! I think cream cheese frosting is a better fit for red velvet brownies anyways. Although I'm not a frosting fan so I think when I make them I will leave it off or maybe just half because the hubby would love the frosting.
Frosting half of the brownie is a good idea since you do not care for frosting. For me there can never be too much frosting.
I've had red velvet cake - but brownies?! Brilliant and oh so tempting!
Thanks Katherine! They certainly are tempting. They call my name all hours of the day and night.