These Cream Cheese Frosted Red Velvet Cookie Bars (of Deliciousness) are what red velvet dessert dreams are made of.
Does it appear these devilish, ruby red velvet cookie bars are tempting us so, and then, even more with that smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting settling in quite comfortably, like they were made for each other? Or am I seeing things?
Is that why these cookie bars are channeling a truly, yummy Valentine's Day dessert delight that could be the way to swoon your lover in to anything you could ever want and desire for the day? Maybe longer?...I think these might just do the trick. Pssst....You're welcome!
I mean, these are pretty much screaming 'LOVE!', in a good way and they've got that 'sexy' deep red, romantic color going on! Yowza!
Plus, you can never go wrong with home-baked goodies. EVER.
You'll be happy to know, these are pretty easy to make, in case the word "Red Velvet" scares the bajesus out of you.
Been there, done that. Did it, feel better.
I always bought/and still buy the Red Velvet cake mix to make bars, cakes and cookies and let's face it, they're so convenient, always in the pantry, ya know? BUT....I just think for the occasion, these bars are really stunning, beautiful and they taste incredibly yummy. Like *roll your eyes back in your head* yummy.
I used red gel food coloring
that I purchase from Amazon in this kit. The color is vibrant and does not add a funky flavor. You can buy them separately or in sets.
Red Velvet is also popular & trendy for so many other holidays too, like Christmas, 4th of July, Mother's Day, birthdays and anything you want the color 'RED' to pop in.
You're gonna go weak in the knees, my friend. Sassy, sexy, and luscious all rolled into Cream Cheese Frosted Red Velvet Cookie Bars (of Deliciousness)...ohhh yeaaaah!
Let's rock 'n roll this!
More Red Velvet creations that make us go weak at the knees
- Mini Red Velvet Brownies with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
- ‘Kiss Me’ Red Velvet Brownies
- Red Velvet Luv Truffles
- Easy Dreamy Red Velvet Cream Cheese Poke Cake
- Mini Red Velvet Brownies with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
- "American Beauty" Retro Red Velvet Cake
Red Velvet Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened 2 sticks or 16 tablespoons
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla or chocolate extract
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Red Food Coloring or when using Liquid Gel Dye or Gel Paste Dye start with small amounts since it’s so concentrated to get desired color
- ⅓ cup unsweetened premium cocoa powder
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 - 8 ounce pkg. cream cheese softened I used ⅓ less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla optional
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray.
- In large bowl, using mixer, cream together butter and sugar for approx. 4 minutes.
- Add eggs, vanilla/chocolate extract, and red food gel/color and mix until combined.
- In another bowl, add cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt and whisk together.
- Mix until fully incorporated then spread batter evenly in pan. I used a butter knife to spread it, the dough is stiff and sticky.
- Bake for 18 - 22 minutes. I tend to under-bake cookie bars, so at 18 minutes, they are still cooking when you take them out of the oven, which give you really fudgy red velvet bars after they set up while they are cooling. I would not bake over 22 minutes if you don't want a fudgy cookie bar, but still want a decent moist bar. 🙂
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In large bowl, using a mixer, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add ½ of the powdered sugar, mix in, then add the remainder with the salt and vanilla and continue mixing until combined. Add more or less powdered sugar, as desired for consistency purposes.
- Spread frosting onto the cooled red velvet cookie bars.
- Sprinkles acceptable.Cut and serve
Recipe modified from Modern Honey's Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars
Kim Lange says
Yes halve the recipe for 8x8 pan Lauren! Enjoy!!
Kim Lange says
I would think you could, just not as much sugar. I haven't tried it, but I hope you enjoy!
Lauren says
Hi Kim!
Can this be used for 8x8 pan? Would the recipe need to be halfed?
Thank you!
Lo says
Hi Kim! Could coconut sugar be used for the sugar? Thanks!
Kim Lange says
Hi Ani, I updated it so you can use metric gram measurement, if you wish. Just click below ingredients and switch to metric and it should do your conversion! I hope you enjoy and thank you so much!!
Ani says
Hi! Your cookie bars look amazing, and i like to make it, but i have a question. You use american or british cup? I want to switch it to gram, but american and british cup are not the same.
Kim Lange says
I am with ya! Thanks so much!
2pots2cook says
Totally agree : keeper for all the holidays throughout the year !
Kim Lange says
Me too Kelsie! Red Velvet is a must for Valentine's Day. 🙂 Thanks so much & Happy Friday!
Kim Lange says
Red Velvet so appropriate for Valentine's Day! Thank you Katherine!!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
That color! I'm a sucker for red velvet any time of year but it's even more fun for Valentine's Day. I think I'll have to make a batch (or three) of these beauties soon!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
These are so dreamy, Kim! Perfect for Valentine's Day!! Pinned!!
Kim Lange says
It really is a match made in heaven, especially for Valentine's Day! Thank you so much Catherine!
Catherine says
These bars are so beautiful, Kim!!! And that frosting is just the dreamiest, it's a match made in heaven!! Such a gorgeous Valentine's treat!! 😀
Kim Lange says
Thanks Kelly! They are super addicting!
Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
No wonder you called these bars "bars of deliciousness" !!!!! Definitely an appropriate name. Love the cream cheese frosting and sprinkles too. The perfect bite 🙂 I agree that red velvet is great anytime! Pinned!! XOXO