Best Red Velvet Cookie Bars

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

These homemade Cream Cheese Frosted Red Velvet Cookie Bars of deliciousness are what red velvet dessert dreams are made of.  When it comes to the best classic desserts, it doesn’t get much better than red velvet cookie bars with cream cheese frosting!

More Red Velvet?  Here’s 25 Drool-Worthy Red Velvet Dessert Recipes, Mini Red Velvet Brownies with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting and ‘Kiss Me’ Red Velvet Brownies!

Why These Red Velvet Cookie Bars Tempt Us So 

The name itself, does it for me!  But, it does appear these devilish, ruby red velvet cookie bars are definitely tempting us so with their beautiful color.  Even more, with that smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting on top, 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.

Why Making These Homemade Red Velvet Desserts Are Easier Than You Think

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.

It’s basically a cookie dough you mix up with a mixer, and then spread out into a pan and bake.  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.

As far as the frosting, again, easy ingredients mixed together using a mixer.

Red Velvet is Always Popular & Trendy

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!

Ingredients You Need

Red Velvet Cookie Bars Recipe

• unsalted butter, softened 
• sugar
• eggs
• vanilla or chocolate extract – if you want a deeper chocolate taste without changing the color of the red velvet bars, then go for it! 
• 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
• unsweetened premium cocoa powder
• all purpose flour
• baking soda
• salt

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• unsalted butter, softened
• cream cheese, softened I used ⅓ less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• powdered sugar
• salt
• vanilla, optional
• Sprinkles, optional

How to Make Best Homemade Red Velvet Cookie Bars 

Preparing the Homemade Red Velvet Cookie Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray.
3. In large bowl, using mixer, cream together butter and sugar for approx. 4 minutes.
4. Add eggs, vanilla/chocolate extract, and red food gel/color and mix until combined.
5. In another bowl, add cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt and whisk together.
6. Mix until fully incorporated then spread batter evenly in pan. I used a butter knife to spread it, the dough is stiff and sticky.

Baking the Cookie Bars

1. 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. ????

Adding the Cream Cheese Frosting

1. 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.
2. Spread frosting onto the cooled red velvet cookie bars.  

Finishing Touches

1. Sprinkles acceptable.
2. Cut and serve

This Red Velvet Cookie Bars recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting offers an easy-to-follow recipe and are sure to be a hit with the family!  Perfect cookie bars are great for beginner and experienced bakers alike. So don’t wait any longer—get baking!

Let’s Rock ‘n Roll This!

More Red Velvet Desserts

• 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

Kim Lange

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?  Oh Yeaaassss!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 18 bars

Calories

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

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 1/3 less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla optional
• Sprinkles optional

US Customary - Metric

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 1/2 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

Keyword cookie bars, cream cheese, red velvet, valentine's day

Tried This Recipe?Let us know how it was by commenting below!

Recipe modified from Modern Honey’s Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars