Dead Love: Recipe for “Bloodies”

What’s cooking in the zombie kitchen?

You’ve tried the brainloaf; now let me introduce you to a dreadfully delightful dessert: bloodies. Just take that old brownie and turn it red … well, it’s actually more the color of coagulated blood, sort of scab-colored but mouth-wateringly dead-licious.

Bloodies are easy to make. You will need:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 teaspoon red food coloring

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square pan. In one bowl, mix butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs. In another bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Slowly add to butter, sugar, egg mixture. Beat until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely in pan before cutting “bloodie” squares. Use a sharp knife.

Or buy a boxed brownie mix and add red food coloring. Voilà, bloodies (as devoured last night at A Great Good Place for Books). From my oven to your mouth. Yum!

—Erin Orison, DEAD LOVE/the Daily Slice