Description
These Red Velvet Cookie Bars are soft, chewy, creamy, and perfect when you want an easy dessert that looks beautiful without extra fuss. With a cocoa-kissed red velvet cookie base, smooth cream cheese frosting, and a pretty crumb topping, this easy recipe is ideal for holiday baking, Valentine’s Day desserts, party food ideas, Christmas treats, bake sale sweets, and simple dessert ideas for sharing.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon heavy cream
2 tablespoons white sprinkles or sanding sugar
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy and smooth.
4. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, red gel food coloring, and vinegar, then mix until evenly combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until a soft red velvet dough forms.
6. Reserve a small handful of dough for crumbs, then press the remaining dough evenly into the prepared pan.
7. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center looks baked but still soft.
8. Bake the reserved dough separately on a small parchment-lined tray for 8 to 10 minutes, then cool and crumble it.
9. Cool the cookie bar base completely before frosting.
10. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until creamy.
11. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars, then top with red velvet crumbs and white sprinkles.
12. Chill for 30 minutes before slicing into clean squares.
Notes
Do not frost the bars while they are warm. Warm bars will melt the cream cheese frosting and make the top messy instead of smooth and sliceable.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 26 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: red velvet cookie bars, red velvet bars, easy dessert, holiday baking, Valentine’s Day desserts, Christmas treats, cream cheese frosting bars, dessert ideas