Red Velvet Brownies

Here's the logic: Brownies = kind of chocolate cake. Red velvet cake = kind of chocolate cake. By the law of transitivity, red velvet brownies should be real tasty. These have a small amount of beet in them for added complexity of flavor and to make the red color without food coloring. Sounds weird, but trust me, it's good, and has a very interesting flavor and keeps moistness without too much oil.

Despite making 3 batches of this one, there are also no pictures in existence....

Red Velvet Brownies, Cream Cheese Frosting

Brownies:

1/2 c beet puree*

2 c sugar

1/2 c oil

2/3 c buttermilk (or 1/3 c lowfat milk + 1/3 c yogurt)

1 egg

6 T cocoa powder (1/4 cup + 2 T)

2 c white flour

Pinch of salt

1/2 c chocolate chips

Red food coloring (optional)

Mix beets, sugar, oil, buttermilk, and egg. I like to do this in the food processor because I've already used it to puree the beets.

Add cocoa, flour, and salt.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Add a few drops of red food coloring if it's not pink enough for you.

Put in greased and floured 11x7 pan.

Cook at 350 F for about 40 minutes, or until just set in center-- Underdone brownies are better than overdone ones...

Cool, then frost!

Frosting:

2 T cream cheese, room temperature

2 T butter, room temperature

2/3 c powdered sugar

Splash of milk

Splash of rum**

Dash of vanilla

Blend cream cheese, butter, and sugar together. Add liquids to thin and make a spreadable consistency.

*Quarter beets, steam them for ~30 minutes (or until fairly soft), then peel, and puree in food processor. Steaming preserves more color than boiling does. Or, use beets from a can. Or baby food, I guess.

** Can use extra vanilla and extra milk instead.