Red Velvet Brownies with Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 oz bittersweet chocolate, 60%, chopped
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, diced into 6 pieces
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 Tbsp liquid red food coloring
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, softened, I like to use 1/4 cup salted and 1/4 cup unsalted
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. If you want easier lifting later, you can line the pan with parchment and butter that too. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together, then put the bowl aside.
2. Place the chopped chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Warm them in the microwave at 50% power in 30 second bursts, stirring between each one, until the mixture is melted and smooth. You can also melt them in a double boiler on the stove; once smooth, take the bowl off the heat and continue.
3. Stir the sugar into the melted chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula until combined. Add the red food coloring, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar, then mix in the eggs. Add the flour mixture and stir only until the batter comes together.
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared dish and smooth it into an even layer. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Set the pan on a wire rack and cool completely before adding the cream cheese frosting and cutting into squares. You can frost the whole pan or frost the brownies individually, whichever you prefer.
5. For the cream cheese frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until the mixture looks pale and fluffy, about 4 – 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, then keep beating until the frosting is pale and fluffy.