Red Velvet Brownies are rich and decadent with the flavors of vanilla, cocoa and a luscious cheesecake swirl and chocolate chips! This brownie recipe is festive enough for Christmas and Valentine's Day and is easy enough for any occasion!
1tablespoonliquid food coloringuse half a tablespoon if using gel food coloring
1teaspoonwhite vinegarwhite balsamic works as well
2 largeeggs
3/4cupall purpose flour
Cheesecake layer
8ouncescream cheesesoftened
1/3cupgranulated sugar
1largeegg
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1/4cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
For the brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8" square baking pan with cooking spray or line with foil.
Melt the butter in the microwave in a large heatproof bowl.
Whisk in each of the following ingredients separately, and in order: 1 cup sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, red food coloring, and vinegar.
Whisk in the 2 eggs until incorporated, then fold in the flour.
Reserve 4 tablespoons of the brownie batter and set aside. Pour the remaining batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
For the cheesecake layer:
Beat the cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
Spoon the filling over the brownie batter in large dollops. Spoon the reserved brownie batter over the top of the cream cheese filling, and sprinkle the chocolate chips over that.
Using a knife, swirl the cream cheese and brownie batter together in a circular motion to combine the layers.
Bake on the center rack of your oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
Pro tip: Place the cream cheese at room temperature 30-60 minutes prior to baking. It's impossible to make cold cream cheese smooth.
If using gel food coloring, decrease the amount to 1.5 teaspoons and add more as needed to achieve the desired hue.
Red velvet cheesecake brownies may be stored at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 3 days, or stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.