Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

A few weekends ago, I was invited to a dinner party to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I must admit that I kind of love dinner parties. The food is always amazing, the wine ever- flowing, and the company is the best. They also make me feel like a grown-up. I should probably already feel that way by now (laundry, bills, taxes, all my friends have kids!), but dinner parties are one of those things I couldn’t wait to become an adult for. Not that I even knew things like that existed when I was a kid. But I knew something special would happen when I grew up and dinner parties are it! Or at least part of it.

And so I was asked to bring dessert for the birthday girl. It was a challenge I was totally up for. These red velvet brownies were a hit with the guests. I’m pretty sure some folks went back for thirds and fourths. Let’s just say there weren’t many left by the end of the night.

Ingredients: (Makes 12 to 16 brownies)
From Southern Living’s Red Velvet Brownies

1 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (1-oz.) bottle red liquid food coloring
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate chips (for garnish)

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat a brownie pan with cooking spray or oil. In a sauce pan, on low heat, melt the chocolate and butter until smooth.

Remove from the heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Whisk in sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Gently stir in flour and the baking soda, food coloring, vanilla and salt . Pour mixture into prepared pan.

Bake at 350° for 44 to 48 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack (about 2 hours). While the brownies cool, make the cream cheese frosting by combining all ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly on top of the brownies .