Red Velvet Brownies from Cake Mix

5 from 6 votes
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Red Velvet Brownies are everything you love about two classic desserts—combined! Mini chocolate chips are topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and then are drizzled with a delicious vanilla raspberry sauce. You won’t believe how simple these brownies are to make, or how incredible they taste. 

Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips
Featured with this recipe
  1. What Makes The Red Velvet Brownies So Good?
  2. Sour Cream Cake
  3. Ingredients
  4. More Topping Ideas
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Other Cake Mix Recipes:
  7. How to Make Red Velvet Brownies
  8. Red Velvet Brownies Recipe

I’ll admit it. I had never heard of red velvet brownies, but once I got the idea of combining two of my favorite desserts, I was determined. I made this recipe multiple times until it was just right, as we are very picky about our brownies around here.

For my family, the ideal brownie needs to be rich and delicious, not too cakey, and not too gooey. I’m happy to report that these red velvet brownies meet all of the above qualifications, plus they are beautiful to look at! It’s the perfect dessert to make for the people you love on Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or any other time you need a pick me up!

Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips


What Makes The Red Velvet Brownies So Good?

These red velvet brownies have a lot going for them. They have that rich red velvet flavor in fudgy brownies that’s enhanced by bits of mini chocolate chips that are mixed in.

Plus, they are topped with a creamy, rich cream cheese frosting. Not only is the taste out of this world, they are super easy to make.

On top of it all, there’s a delicious vanilla raspberry sauce drizzled over the top, along with even more tiny chocolate chips sprinkled on top. In my opinion, the raspberry sauce is what really sets this recipe over the top, it is seriously amazing!

Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips

Sour Cream Cake

There’s one other ingredient in these red velvet brownies that you may not be expecting: sour cream. It may seem like a weird addition, but it gives this red velvet brownies recipe the perfect texture and taste. This recipe only calls for 1/4th cup of sour cream to be added to the cake mix, but it truly makes a difference for a perfectly chewy brownie. Try it and see!

Ingredients

Red Velvet Brownie Batter:

  • Box red velvet cake mix – dry, unprepared (this gives the brownies the red color as opposed to using red food coloring)
  • Melted Butter (you can sub vegetable oil but unsalted butter tastes better)
  • Large Egg
  • Water
  • Sour cream
  • Mini chocolate chips – or white chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Cream cheese – softened
  • Butter – softened
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract

Raspberry Glaze:

  • Raspberry preserves – or jam, if you don’t like seeds
  • Water
  • Vanilla extract
Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips

More Topping Ideas

You can change this brownie recipe up when it comes to toppings. These red velvet brownies work well with many flavors. If you want to skip the frosting, you can serve them plain, dusted with powdered sugar, a chocolate drizzle, or even topped with ice cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make my brownies more moist?

Our little secret is using sour cream. Adding sour cream to your brownie batter or cake mix makes your brownies more moist and gives them a better texture.

Is red velvet cake just red chocolate cake?

While red velvet does has a chocolate flavor and does contain cocoa powder, it is not the same as chocolate cake. It has much less cocoa powder than chocolate cake.

Why are brownies different from cake?

The main difference is the amounts of sugar, butter, and flour. Also, there typically aren’t baking soda or baking powder in brownies. And a final thing, usually there is more chocolate in brownies than in any cake.

How should I stir the batter?

Make sure you are using a large mixing bowl. You can stir it by hand with a whisk, use an electric mixer, or a hand mixer. Then I like to use a rubber spatula to pour it all out of the bowl and into the pan before it goes in the oven.

What is in red velvet cake mix?

Granulated sugar (sugar, dextrose), Enriched all purpose flour, Modified palm oil, Cocoa powder, Wheat starch, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dicalcium phosphate, Sodium aluminum phosphate, Monocalcium phosphate, Cellulose gum, Allura red, Xanthan gum, Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids

Read More:33+ Easy Dessert Ideas (with Pictures + Simple Recipes)

Other Cake Mix Recipes:

How to Make Red Velvet Brownies

Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips

Red Velvet Brownies

5 from 6 votes
Red Velvet Brownies with mini chocolate chips are topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and then are drizzled with a delicious vanilla raspberry sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24

Video

Equipment

  • 9×13 inch pan

Ingredients

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix dry/unprepared
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 package mini chocolate chips

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

For the Raspberry Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup raspberry preserves or jam if you don’t like the seeds
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Combine all the brownie ingredients in a medium size bowl until everything is mixed together but do not over mix.
    batter in a mixing bowl
  • Line a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray or parchment paper and evenly spread the brownie mixture into the baking pan.
    batter in a baking dish lined with parchment paper
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or when a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
    red velvet brownies baked in a pan

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the powdered sugar (start with 1 cup then keep adding more until it is nice and thick).
    cream cheese frosting
  • Cool brownies completely then spread cream cheese frosting over the top.
    frosted red velvet brownies on a cutting board

For the Raspberry Glaze

  • Combine and warm all ingredients in a small saucepan on low heat.
    a bowl of raspberry jam topping
  • Drizzle with raspberry sauce and sprinkle with extra mini chocolate chips.
    Red Velvet Brownies frosted with cream cheese icing and topped with raspberry topping and chocolate chips

Notes

Best storage for your red velvet cake mix brownies:
  • If storing in the refrigerator, place in an airtight container, separating each layer with parchment paper. They the brownies will keep for up to a week in the fridge. 
  • If storing in the freezer, place brownies on a baking dish and wrap with plastic wrap, or wrap individually and place in a freezer bag. Your brownies will last up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to eat, unwrap and thaw to room temperature. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 296kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 243mgPotassium: 82mgFiber: 1gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 353IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

    1. Yes, that should work fine as long as you use a full fat Greek yogurt, not fat free or low fat. Thanks for asking!

  1. I used a brownie edge pan. But you can bake it in a 9 square for thicker brownies or a 9 x 13 for thinner brownies.

  2. 5 stars
    My kids love brownies and we were looking for something different than a standard brownie recipe. These were perfect!

  3. 5 stars
    Made this brownie recipe for a work potluck and it was a it! Easy to make too, the raspberry topping just makes it. Great recipe!

  4. It would be nice if when you say recipe here for the cream cheese frosting it would come up instead of oops can’t find what your looking for, same for the Raspberry glaze. This is why I don’t use any of the recipes on this site.

    1. We recently made our site a “secured” site so it is safer to browse. By doing this, all of our links broke. We are working tirelessly to fix this ASAP.

    1. It depends on how big you cut the squares. These brownies are rich, so I cut them into 24 squares – 4 cuts along the length of the 9×13 pan and then 6 cuts along the width. You are going to LOVE these brownies!

    1. Just the cream cheese frosting needs to stay refrigerated, but you can keep them separate and add the frosting just before eating.

  5. 5 stars
    These look AMAZING!!! Pinned! Such a perfect treat for the whole family this holiday. 🙂