Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies

My favorite cake is red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.  So…when I found red velvet cream cheese brownies, I was SOLD!  The brownies are fudgy and decadent with a cheesecake swirl.  I baked a batch for Valentine’s Day, but they’d work really well for a Christmas treat, too.
Oh, and February 10th is National Cream Cheese Brownie Day…just in case you need an excuse to bake:)

Let’s bake!

Beat 2 eggs in a small bowl.  Set aside.

Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments.  Stir in 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar.

Whisk in the eggs.

Fold in the flour.  Do not overmix.

For the cheesecake swirl:

In a medium bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium speed, mix the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix until smooth…about 1 minute.

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish leaving 3-4 Tablespoons for the top.  Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter.

Cover with the last few Tablespoons of brownie batter and glide a knife through the mixture to make a swirl pattern.

Bake brownies in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool completely before cutting into squares and enjoy!!

Ingredients:

RED VELVET BROWNIES
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon liquid or gel red food coloring
3/4 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
CHEESECAKE SWIRL
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray 8×8 baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.

Make the brownie layer first. In a small bowl, beat the 2 eggs together. Set aside. Melt the butter in a large microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted. Stir in 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar. Mix each of those ingredients into the batter in that order. Whisk in the eggs, then fold in the flour until completely incorporated. Do not overmix. Pour the brownie batter into prepared baking pan, leaving about 3-4 Tablespoons for the top.

Make the cheesecake swirl. With a hand-held mixer on medium speed, beat the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl until completely smooth – about 1 minute. Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture on top of the prepared brownie batter. Cover with the last few Tablespoons of brownie batter. Glide a knife through the layers, creating a swirl pattern.

Bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting into squares. Cover brownies and store at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Brownies will freeze well, up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

*To double the recipe for a large batch, simply double all the ingredients and bake in a 9×13 pan for around 45 minutes – give or take. Same oven temperature.

Recipe from: Sally’s Baking Addiction

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