Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, vigorously whisk together the warm melted butter and granulated sugar until well combined and slightly grainy.
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until smooth. Then whisk in the vanilla extract and white vinegar.
- Add the red gel food coloring and whisk thoroughly until the batter reaches a vibrant, deep red color.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, natural cocoa powder, and salt. Gently fold this dry mixture into the wet ingredients using a rubber spatula just until no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly to the corners.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist, sticky crumbs (not raw batter). Do not overbake.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours to allow them to set into a fudgy texture.
- While cooling, whisk together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until completely smooth to create the drizzle.
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the cooled brownies out of the pan. Drizzle the cream cheese glaze in a zig-zag pattern over the top, then slice into 16 squares.
Notes
For the cleanest slices, chill the cooled block of brownies in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting with a sharp, warm knife.