Thursday, November 25, 2010

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies and Good News


It's now Week 9 of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies. Hard to believe that it'll already be December next week. The time has gone by so quickly, but I've had an extremely fun time baking along with this group.

I've mentioned before that my mother loves red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Once, when I went home for Christmas break, I baked three red velvet cakes in three weeks (and yes, they all got eaten). So, when I saw this recipe on Moogie and Pap's site, I just knew I had to make them, especially since my mother would be spending Thanksgiving with me.


Their beautiful red color makes them perfect for the upcoming Christmas season, but they taste so good, you'll want to make them all year round.

As for the good news, I just found out last week that I passed the California Bar Exam!!! I was so thrilled that I let out a loud whoop when I saw my name on the computer screen (hope the neighbors didn't hear me). It's such a relief after all these months of waiting for the results (the exam was in July). It was definitely something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.


Red Velvet Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies (Moogie & Pap and Baked Perfection)

Red Velvet Layer:
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan, and set aside.

Brownie layer: Add melted butter to a large bowl and add the sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar, in that order, mixing between additions. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and stir it into the cocoa mix. Fold in the flour until lightly combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, saving 1/4 cup of the batter for the top.

Cream cheese layer: Blend together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter in the pan. Dollop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer. Using a skewer or the tip of a knife, drag the tip through the cream cheese mixture to create a swirl pattern. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting.

Note: I'd recommend chilling these bars. I think they become even better this way.

This recipe is linked to:
Prairie Story's Recipe Swap
Friday Potluck
Tasty Tuesdays

Week 9 Twelve Weeks of Christmas:

54 comments:

  1. These brownies look and sound delicious, I love anything topped with cream cheese.
    And what an excellent news, congratulations :)))

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  2. Congrats on your passings! And i bet ur mom is real proud of u for passing ur exams and for this beautiful cake u made for her!

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  3. Your brownies look amazing! Congrats on passing the Bar Exam, that's quite an accomplishment:@)

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  4. Hey, congrats on passing the bar exam, that's wonderful! I hope you celebrated with a lot of these amazing brownies.

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  5. Congrats on passing the exam--that's always a relief! These brownies look to-die-for :-)

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  6. Congratulations! I love the beautiful color of these - perfect for Christmas!

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  7. These are gorgeous! I thought about making these when I saw it on Moogie's website!

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  8. I'm blaming the fact that I might still be in food coma from yesterday's eating binge because when I saw these my stomach starting turning. They look really delicious and I'm sure after this food settles in a week I'll be ready to make these, haha!

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  9. Congratulations on passing the bar exam! What a thrill for you -- and how terrible to have to wait so long to hear!

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  10. I love red velvet too. These look fantastic and the way you did the frosting is so beautiful. We will have to give these yummies a try. Hope you had a wonderful day.

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  11. Mmmm, I bet those were seriously yummy!

    Congrats on passing the bar!!
    ~ingrid

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  12. This sounds absolutely delicious and then some. Good going, Lisa.

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  13. Congratulations Lisa! That'a s huge accomplishment. What are your plans now? By the way, your brownies look so good. My hubby's favorite cake is red velvet too.

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  14. Parabéns Lisa por ter passado no exame!!! Tenho certeza de que você merece!!!
    Esse red velvet brownie está lindo! Aqui no Brazil isso é novidade, com certeza vou fazer no natal e impressionar!
    Obrigada por compartilhar a receita!
    Bom final de semana!

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  15. Congratulations, Lisa! That is awesome news. :-) I have been so busy cooking for Thanksgiving that I forgot to make cookies this week!

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  16. Congratulations on passing the bar! I could never wait that long for test results - the suspense would kill me.
    Beautiful brownies and so nice to make your mom's favorite!

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  17. These look amazing and you're right, so festive!!! Congratualtions on passing the bar!!! That's awesome! Way to go!

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  18. These look great. I tried a red velvet bundt cake and didn't care for it. But brownies--that I think I'd love.
    I already told you, but congrats again on passing your big exam!

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  19. The brownie looks utterly gorgeous...perfect color for the season !!
    Congrats on your accomplishment Lisa!

    US Masala

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  20. Congratulation on passing the bar! That is quite an achievement.

    These brownies are awesome. They look so Christmas-y and delicious. My daughter loves red velvet cake. I will have to make these for her:)

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  21. I just love the color of red velvet cake, though I've never tried it! These brownies look awesome! Thanks for linking up to Friday Potluck again this week, Lisa! And, congrats on the bar! How exciting!!!

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  22. Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I don't blame you for whooping it up. Your brownies look little squares of heaven!

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  23. WOW Lisa, passing the California Bar is no easy feat! Congratulations! I would be VERY excited too!
    Love these gorgeous brownies, but maybe you should call them Bars;)

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  24. I have never made red velvet. Is that liquid food colouring you use? They look wonderful! Congratulations on passing!

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  25. o my. These look too decadent (in a good way of course!)

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  26. Congratulations - what fantastic news! The brownies look amazing, too : )

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  27. How tasty I think all the chocolate mix would be gone though before i had chance to bake them lol

    Thanks for entering my giveaway. good luck :)

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  28. Red velvet brownies...how creative!! Perfect for Christmas, too!

    Congrats on passing the bar! You must be so excited!!!

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  29. I really enjoy all the sweets you make. I gave you an award today:
    http://bigmamashomekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/11/stylish-blog-award.html

    Have a great weekend!

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  30. congrats! That's so exciting, and took a lot of hard work, I'm sure.

    Those brownies are making an appearance at our house this year. I learned how to make red velvet cookies this past year and I love them so...

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  31. What great news!!! Congratulations!
    And those brownies look wonderful!! I'm going to pass this recipe along to my best friend..she loves everything red velvet!

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  32. Congrats on passing the bar. What an accomplishment!!! Those brownies are so pretty with the swirls. I bet your mother would love them.

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  33. Mmm, Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Frosting is an excellent combo! And congrats on passing your exam! How frustrating to have to wait so long to hear back!

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  34. COgrats Lisa, that sounds soooo good!!
    And the red velvetty delite is sooo good!!
    I have a giveaway happening too this time and wud loveee for u to enter too:-)
    Come and join in the fun!

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  35. Lisa Congratulations ... u must be really happy ... and btw the brownies look great!

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  36. Congratulations! I remember my day and I was speechless and breathless - if possible! :) I think I must have read the list like 5 times just to confirm! Congrats - it's a major accomplishment!

    And no better way than to make brownies! :)

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  37. These brownies look incredible! And congrats on passing the bar!! :-)

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  38. Congratulations on passing the Bar!! I can't imagine how excited you must be. And, thanks for sharing this recipe... I too LOVE Red Velvet cake and this looks like a great twist!

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  39. Lisa! Congrats on passing the bar! What an accomplishment. I know the Cali's bar is one of THE hardest. I'm so proud of you! And your brownies look fantastic.

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  40. Congrats, what an accomplishment! I'm beaming for you. This is an amazing recipe, I had my eye on it to!
    -Gina-

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  41. Gorgeous red velvet brownies- the swirl is beautiful. :) Congratulations on passing the bar exam!

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  42. Congratulations on passing the Bar exam. I remember when my husband passed his P.E. exam for engineering I cried when he opened the letter. Those red velvet bars look amazing! Joni

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  43. Drool! That does look delicious! I've actually never had red velvet cake, but it's something I've wanted to try for a while.

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  44. Hi Lisa
    I just saw Lisa's post about you on FB and had to come over and congratulate you on passing the bar!!
    Now let me tell you those brownies look amazing!! I have never seen red velvet brownies, I am in awe!!!
    Keep those tasty treats coming!
    Dennis

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  45. Congratulations Lisa on passing the bar!!!! Your Red Velvet Bars looks so good, I am going to try them. I just now saw that you are hosting 12 Days of Christmas, I will bring something over. Thank you for sharing and have a great week!

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  46. awesome...! I've seen these before and have been meaning to try them....are they as yum as they look and sound??

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  47. Absolutely GORGEOUS brownies Lisa!!! - of course I just adore these brownies because I just love anything "RED Velvet"! :-)

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  48. These look delicious, Lisa. And big congratulations on passing your bar exam! WOOT!!

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  49. These look awesome!!! Wow and the colors just stand out.

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  50. Congrats!!! You finally get to know, how sweet! These brownies are perfect for Christmas and a recipe i must try!!!

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  51. Lisa, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so sorry, I just saw this now. That is wonderful news, you must be so excited and so proud. Very exciting news and your red velvet brownies were a perfect way to celebrate!

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  52. Yeah for you! That was a good Christmas present, huh? I think these brownies would be a good way to celebrate. We held Valentine banquets at the same church for several years. Red velvet cake was served every year. I can't wait to try this.

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