Red Velvet Brownies

I have recently fallen in love with all things Red Velvet. I have to give PF Changs a shout out for their Red Velvet Cake....it's to die for and it's served in a tall shot glass. I have been searching for an interesting Red Velvet Cake recipe for awhile and finally found this one on www.bakedperfection.com. I just served these brownies to my teachers at school and they loved them! 

Red Velvet Layer:1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Pinch salt
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Layer:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan, and set aside.

Brownie layer: Add melted butter to a large bowl and add the sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar, in that order, mixing between additions. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and stir it into the cocoa mix. Fold in the flour until lightly combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, saving 1/4 cup of the batter for the top.

Cream cheese layer: Blend together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter in the pan. Dollop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer. Using a skewer or the tip of a knife, drag the tip through the cream cheese mixture to create a swirl pattern. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting.

Pillow Cookies

I have a habit to browse other baking and cooking blogs for unique recipes. I came across the recipe for Pillow Cookies on www.bakerella.com. I was intrigued by the name, maybe because I haven't been getting much sleep lately, but probably because it combines 2 of my favorite baked goods......brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Yes, brownies AND chocolate chip cookies! I know it sounds impossible but I have proof that it's possible.

Pillow Cookies


Ingredients
1 box of brownie mix (feel free to make your own brownies if you are ambitious)
Recipe to your favorite chocolate chip cookies--I always use the one from the back of the bag of chocolate chips

Directions
Bake the brownies according to the box and let cool. Once cool, cut into 1 inch by 1 inch squares.

Meanwhile, mix up the ingredients to your chocolate chip cookie recipe. Once dough is made, take 1/2 cup scoops of dough and flatten. Take a brownie and place it in the middle of the chocolate chip cookie dough. Form the dough around the brownie to close the brownie in. Shape the cookies as close to a ball shape as possible.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. The time will depend on how big each cookie is. Keep a close eye out!

Let them bake, cool, and enjoy!