Description
These Valentine Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Brownies are the ultimate treat for your loved ones! With the perfect balance of rich, chocolaty flavor and a vibrant red hue, these brownies are the ideal combination of indulgent and festive. Whether for a special occasion or just because, these brownies are sure to impress!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Brownies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with a squeeze of lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- For the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Make the Brownie Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and red food coloring until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in the white vinegar until everything is fully combined.
- Make the Cream Cheese Swirl: In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Brownies: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Use a knife or skewer to swirl the cream cheese into the batter for a marbled effect.
- Bake the Brownies: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before removing.
- Cut into Heart Shapes: Once the brownies are completely cool, remove them from the pan. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut the brownies into cute heart shapes. You can also simply cut them into squares if you prefer.
- Serve: Serve the brownies as a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day, or gift them to someone special!
Notes
- If you don’t have a heart-shaped cutter, you can cut the brownies into regular squares or rectangles.
- For a richer swirl, double the cream cheese mixture and swirl more generously into the brownie batter.
- To intensify the red color, add a few more drops of food coloring if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Brownies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Red velvet brownies, heart-shaped brownies, Valentine’s Day dessert, red velvet, cream cheese brownies, holiday treats, festive brownies