eats: red velvet cake batter brownies with cream cheese frosting.

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Second only to my Original Cake Batter Blondies, this recipe has been my most popular post. It’s been a while since I shared it, so I thought it would be a good time to do a little re-post. You know, since it includes those Christmas colors and all 😉

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

brownie ingredients:

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup milk

frosting ingredients:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 + 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

cream cheese frosting

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cake mix in a large bowl and mix in the oil and egg. Then add the milk slowly JUST until the batter is combined – you want it to remain as dense as possible. Place batter in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan and bake for 22-25 minutes.

While the brownies are is in the oven, get started on the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter until fully combined. Add vanilla and sugar, and continue beating until creamy.

Let brownies cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting/frosting because the gooey center needs to set. The result will be a decadent, brownie-batter texture.

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

These babies - especially combined with the cream cheese frosting - are pretty much guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing dessert for the holidays.

(Check out all of my Cake Batter recipes here)

the best part: made with love.

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“Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realize they were the big things.”

That’s a popular quote – one I’ve heard maybe hundreds of times – but it’s one that still rings so very true. The more I learn, see, and experience in life, the more I realize that it really is the little moments and simple gestures that can make all the difference in the world.

I’m always on the search for new ways to inspire and uplift others, as well as realizing what it is that inspires me the most. Sometimes that looks like grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like sharing stories of courage, facing challenges, and overcoming hardships. Sometimes it’s sharing wisdom and advice.

But sometimes…the most inspiring of acts are actually the simplest ones.

To me, one of the best ways to share love and uplift others is to just spend time with them and share in celebration – to share joyful experiences together. That’s why this time of year with the holidays are so important to me – I love the opportunity to share the simple moments of love and reflection with the people who matter most to me.

As someone who loves to bake, one of my favorite ways to bring joy to the people around me is to make them something delicious. Sure, eating is something we do three times a day. It becomes habitual. But even so, there’s nothing quite as comforting as eating a delicious treat, made with love.

There’s something about food that brings people together like nothing else. Food is central to celebration, social gatherings, and evoking memories. No matter what culture or background you come from, food is a common bond that ties us together and can be symbolic of much more than just fueling our bodies.

Like Classic Apple Crisp, which my mom and I have made every fall since I can remember. Or Bobby Pin Sugar Cookies – a recipe that has been in my family for decades, and is named after a kindergarten teacher.

Life can be so overwhelming sometimes. And these days with technology, it has become even more difficult to just sit down and enjoy the simple things. That’s why I want to encourage and inspire you to slow down, and enjoy those little things, made with love. For one day you’ll realize they were the big things.

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Here are some other favorite recipes I think your loved ones will enjoy.

Heavenly Almond Bars

Buttermilk Maple Cinnamon Scones

Preacher’s Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Reese’s Pieces Cookie Bars

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What is a “little thing” in life that uplifts you?

The Best Part is an online community that’s dedicated to brightening your day—every day. How? By spreading optimism, one share at a time. The Best Part posts inspirational stories, encouraging quotes, good news and other upbeat items on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—and encourages fans and followers to share that optimism with their friends. Because when optimism is shared, it grows, making an even more positive impact on our world. Check out what others are sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.