Red Velvet Christmas Brownie Balls Recipe

Sometimes mistakes are just meant to be. That is exactly how this festive Christmas Red Velvet Brownie Balls recipe was born. These delicious little Christmas brownie bites can be made from scratch with this homemade brownie recipe or with a red velvet brownie mix. They are the perfect festive addition to your holiday baking tray!

These Brownie Balls are popular during the holidays and make a great addition to a cookie tray.

But here's the reason they came about; this is 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 Catch my Party.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 brownie bites. 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.

🥘 Ingredients

For this little brownie bites recipe, you'll need:

• salted butter
• eggs
• white granulated sugar
• vanilla extract 
• cocoa
• semi-sweet chocolate chips
• red food coloring * I use Wilton brand no-taste red 
• all-purpose flour
• chocolate frosting  *I use Betty Crocker Whipped Chocolate Frosting or you can use a homemade frosting
• candy melts - I use white and chocolate
• vegetable shortening
• sparkling sugar

*see recipe card for quantities

📖 Variations

• Red Velvet brownies: You can make these red velvet brownies with brownie mix or using homemade brownies (recipe included). You could even use store-bought brownies, if you can find red velvet.
• Candy melts: you can use any color of candy melts
• Sprinkles, sparkling sugar and sanding sugar - use any color or type you desire
• Brownie pops - put them on lollipop sticks and you have brownie pops!
• Chocolate chips - you could use dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips instead

🍽 Equipment

You will need a 9X13 pan for this easy recipe. You could also use a cookie scoop to form the balls.

👪 Serving Size

This Christmas Brownie Balls recipe makes 24 brownie bites. However, you can half, double or even triple the recipe by clicking on the blue servings number in the recipe card. Then select the number of servings you would like and the ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.

🌡️Storage

Store these Christmas Brownie bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. These also freeze well in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months.

🎥 Video

Video -  How to coat a brownie ball

🦺FOOD SAFETY

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw egg
• Wash hands after touching raw egg
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
• Never leave cooking food unattendedSee more guidelines at USDA.gov 

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 amazing tasting little bites! 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 and perfect bite size 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,  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! 

If you like this recipe, please PIN IT and KEEP IT REAL!

📋 Red Velvet Christmas Brownie Balls Recipe

These festive and delicious Red Velvet Christmas Brownie Balls can be made from scratch or with a red velvet brownie mix. They are the perfect festive addition to your holiday baking tray!

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Canadian, North American

Special Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: 24 brownie balls

Calories: 254kcal

Author: Terri Gilson

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• ▢
  9X13 pan

Ingredients

Brownies: OR: SUBSTITUTE 'RED VELVET BROWNIE MIX'

• ▢ 1 cup salted butter
• ▢ 3 large eggs
• ▢ 1 ¾ cups sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ cup cocoa powder
• ▢ ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoon red food coloring use no- taste red- I buy Wilton brand at Michaels Arts & Crafts or Americolor super red
• ▢ 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   12 oz/340g -packages of candy melts- color of your choice. I use white and chocolate * I use Wilton brand
• ▢ 4 teaspoon vegetable shortening

Garnish:

• ▢ sprinkles/sparkling sugar of your choice

US Customary - Metric

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 into a large bowl. Whisk 3 eggs in another medium mixing bowl.
• Add the sugar, vanilla extract & cocoa powder to the melted butter and combine.
• Melt 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 brownie batter to prepared pan. *If using a box mix, bake as per package directions
• Bake brownies at 350 degrees F/176 degrees C 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 cooled brownies from pan and break into pieces.

Brownies Balls Assembly

• Place brownie balls in your food processor and process to crumb, or you can 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 teaspoon 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") Then place them on a wax paper (or parchment paper covered) baking sheet.
• Sprinkle on festive sprinkles, sparkling sugar or other decorations before they harden. Then refrigerate for a few minutes if you want them to harden quickly.

Notes

*Please see post contents for important recipe information, substitutions and tips!

🎥 VIDEO

Video -  How to coat a brownie ball

Note: reduce the time by 20 minutes if you are using a box red velvet brownie mix

 

Nutrition Facts

📋 Red Velvet Christmas Brownie Balls Recipe

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.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal (13%) | Carbohydrates: 34g (11%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 12g (18%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Cholesterol: 48mg (16%) | Sodium: 106mg (5%) | Potassium: 75mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 25g (28%) | Vitamin A: 320IU (6%) | Calcium: 11mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

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