Sometimes mistakes are just meant to be. That is exactly how these festive Red Velvet Brownie Bites were born.
But here's what I was actually trying to make:
When I saw these adorable Red Velvet Brownie Christmas Trees a few years back, I just had to make them!
                                        Photo courtesy of worthpinning.com
Sadly, they were not meant to be. Actually, they were a bit of a disaster. Although I am an experienced baker, I mess things up too. It tends to happen when I'm distracted, hurried or stressed/trying to do too much at once!
So...not wanting to waste them, I morphed them into a new Christmas Tradition. Now Christmas just isn't Christmas without these little guys. So, I keep making them "wrong," -the same way I did the first time I screwed them up. The funny thing is, I still don't know why they didn't turn out and I no longer care.
KEEPING IT REAL:
And as you can see...these brownie balls are not perfect; nor are they symmetrical. They have lumps and bumps.
I really considered making more better, nicer, rounder ones for these photos. But then it occurred to me that you'd only be disappointed if yours didn't turn out like that. Because they probably won't. They are brownies, not cake and there is a difference. Brownie crumb is coarser and therefore does not form into as smooth a ball as cake does. And they pretty much always look like this.
Oh, sure, I could have spent a lot more time forming and shaping them so they would look better for the photo, but life is short! And they still taste amazing! So, here they are... in all their real, lumpy & bumpy glory.
They are not Pinterest real. They are real world real.
So why not add these real, cute and tasty little Red Velvet Brownie Bites to your last minute Christmas baking list? You can even make these red velvet brownies from a mix to make it quicker and easier. Honestly, Â I would have done the same if the store wasn't out of them! Although, the homemade is much tastier. Isn't it always?
Happy holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy New Years!Â
If you like this recipe, please PIN IT and KEEP IT REAL!
Red Velvet Brownie Bites
Ingredients
Brownies: OR: SUBSTITUTE 'RED VELVET BROWNIE MIX'
- 1 cup salted butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 ½ tbsp red food coloring use no- taste red- I buy Wilton brand at Michaels Arts & Crafts
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- OR: SUBSTITUTE 'RED VELVET BROWNIE MIX' FOR THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS
Brownie Bites:
- 1 cup  chocolate frosting I use store-bought Betty Crocker whipped chocolate icing
- 1-2 Â 12 oz/340g -packages of candy melts- color of your choice. I use white and chocolate * I use Wilton brand
- 4 tsp vegetable shortening
Instructions
Brownies: OR: SUBSTITUTE 'RED VELVET BROWNIE MIX'
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9"x 13" pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Pour in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk 3 eggs in another medium mixing bowl.
- Add the sugar, vanilla extract & cocoa powder to the melted butter and combine.
- Melt the ½ cup of chocolate chips in a saucepan and add to the sugar mixture. Add the whisked eggs to the sugar mixture and then the flour  Add red food colouring. Add batter to prepared pan. *If using a box mix, bake as per package directions
- Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 40 minutes until middle is set (and tester comes out clean and the edges are have separated from the pan.) Let the brownies cool and remove from pan and break into pieces.
Brownies Bites Assembly
- Turn to crumb into your food processor or by hand (but needs to be a fine crumb).
- Mix together with icing. Then form into balls (about 1 ½ ") ** It really helps to have wet hands when you do this part! Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for about 10 minutes. You will really have to compress the balls to get them to stick. Add more icing as needed, 1 tsp at a time.
- Meanwhile, melt candy melts on low in pot on stovetop with shortening, stirring frequently. OR you can melt in microwave on ½ power (5 on my microwave). Heat up again as it begins to set, as necessary. ***Be careful not to get melted candy melts anywhere near water or overcook because the candy melts will seize.
- Dip brownie balls in melted candy melts. I use a technique similar to video in notes (see video in notes- How to coat a brownie ball in candy melts)
- Sprinkle on sparkling sugar or other decorations before they harden. Then refrigerate for a few minutes if you want them to harden quickly.
Notes
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Nutrition Facts
Red Velvet Brownie Bites
Amount Per Serving
Calories 254
Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%Saturated Fat 7g44%Cholesterol 48mg16%Sodium 106mg5%Potassium 75mg2%Carbohydrates 34g11%Fiber 1g4%Sugar 25g28%Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 320IU6%Calcium 11mg1%Iron 1mg6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Nutrition
This recipe is part of The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck
I love that this was a baking mistake turned brilliant. They do look scrumptious!
Thanks, Sue. They are very tasty!
I wish my mess-ups come out as good as these!! Saving these for Christmas!
Thanks, Karly! It was a good save that time, but I've had many not-so-good saves :)!
These would look so lovely on a Christmas cookie tray! I'll be adding these to my list of must tries this year. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, Jo. Yes, they are a nice, unique addition to the baking tray. Enjoy!
Even those those little Christmas trees are really cute, your brownie balls look much more do-able and delicious. I think they are Pin worthy for sure. YUM!
Hi Colleen, Thanks! Yes, I couldn't find the same sprinkles I used before, so I thought those Christmas trees would be super cute 🙂
It looks cute and delicious and it would be perfect for a foodie gift as well so I'm pinning it 🙂
Hi Melanie - thanks! Yes, I love to add them to my baking tray 🙂
What a fun idea! These will look great on any holiday treat spread. Clever indeed!
Thanks, Diane!
Your Red Velvet Brownie Bites are adorable, Terri! I can totally relate to baking trials and errors (also known as "Crumb Truffles"). I love what you made from your baking experiences - I am pinning your recipe.
Thank you, Denise! I love the name "Crumb Truffles!"
I love that you kept it real Terri! And isn't it the best when a disaster in the kitchen turns into a delightful recipe!? These look delicious, and perfect for the holidays!
Thanks, Leanne! Yes, so glad these turned into something delicious, as many of my disasters haven't 🙂