Monday, December 13, 2010

Christmas time is here!

Tis the season to be jolly!!! This is one of my favorite times of the year! Pretty lights, Christmas decorations, stockings, and lets not forget all of the wonderful Christmas FOOD!! Really I love any holiday or any other day when I get to bake. I love to try new things and bake something absolutely delicious for any gathering. This year I have become obsessed with red velvet, and all things made red velvet style. Anything from red velvet cake, red velvet cake balls, and something I am especially excited to try out red velvet brownies. I will be making them for one of the holiday gatherings this year!!! This week (I know I have been a slacker in the posing department, but really I am going to do this) I am going to post a recipe that I am excited about making .....and who knows if your really lucky.....I will even post two in one day!! Today it is Red Velvet Brownies!! I will let you know how they turn out as soon as I make them, but for now here is the recipe...it was featured in this months Southern Living magazine (one of my favorite magazines...since I'm a southern belle!)

Red Velvet Brownies
1 4oz. bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
3/4 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1oz. bottle red liquid food coloring
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
small batch cream cheese frosting
white chocolate curls to garnish

Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottom and sides of 9" square pan with foil, allowing 2-3 inches to extend over sides. Grease foil.
Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave safe bowl at high 1 1/2 - 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30 second intervals. Whisk in sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition. Stir in flour, and next 4 ingredients. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
Bake at 350° for 44 to 48 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack. (about 2 hours)
Lift brownies from pan, using foil sides as handles; gently remove foil. Spread small batch cream cheese frosting on top of Brownies, and cut into 16 squares. Garnish with chocolate curls.

Small-Batch Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8oz. package cream cheese frosting
3 T. butter softened
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/8 t. salt
1 t. vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy, gradually add powdered sugar and salt, beating until blended , stir in vanilla.

Hope you enjoy them...I know I will :)