Red Velvet Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Delightfully rich and colorful Red Velvet Cookie Bars featuring a moist, cocoa-infused dough topped with a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for parties or a sweet treat any time of day, these bars combine the classic flavors of red velvet cake in an easy-to-make, handheld format.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 0.5 cup brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will give the bars a tender texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring until the mixture is well combined and vibrant in color.
- Mix Dry Ingredients Separately: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2.5 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 0.5 teaspoon salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and cocoa.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually mix the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until a thick dough forms without over-mixing, ensuring even color and texture.
- Spread and Bake: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until the bars are set and a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool Bars: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to room temperature before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together 8 oz softened cream cheese and 0.5 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Milk: Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk, beating until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Optionally, top with red velvet crumbs for decoration. Slice into bars and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for smooth creaming and frosting consistency.
- You can adjust the red gel food coloring quantity to your preferred shade of red.
- For added texture, consider folding in white chocolate chips or nuts into the dough before baking.
- Store the frosted bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Allow the bars to come to room temperature before serving for optimal flavor and texture.
Keywords: red velvet bars, red velvet cookie bars, cream cheese frosting, dessert bars, baking dessert
