These Red Velvet Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting have the perfect chewy texture with a cream cheese frosting that will melt in your mouth!
Nothing says 'I love you!' like red velvet does. There is just something so decadent about red velvet, it always puts me in a holiday mood.
Maybe even a Christmas mood. Now, I'm not gonna break out Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, or anything Christmas related, but the deep red color in red velvet always reminds me of Christmas.
Is there something like that with you? Is there a particular food that reminds you of a certain holiday?
When I made these bars last week, I had initially thought that they would be in a container on the way with Zack to work. I can't eat them because I'm hitting Jenny Craig hard, and I didn't want them in the fridge sitting without being eaten, because I have making so many things to try and get ahead of my calendar this year.
The year that I quit work and started homeschooling Kelsie, I was about two months ahead of posts.
At this moment, if it were then, I would already be working on recipes for May. < ----- I was ahead of the game! It was awesome.
So, I'm trying to get back to at least having posts a month ahead of time. It just helps in the fact that if I get sick and can't bake/cook/photograph/edit/write at any time, or if we want to take vacation, which we are planning on doing, or if Kelsie gets sick, I want things to flow smoothly here while I'm away.
Oh, back to why I didn't want these here. Well, between these scrumptious red velvet bars with cream cheese frosting, the peanut butter stuffed brownies, and the lemon zucchini bread...there have been several sweets in our house lately.
Let's not forget what's coming up either...let's just say that lemon is a favorite at the moment. However, these guys managed to stay here. I can see why Zack and the girls are being selfish with them...they are amazing.
I only allowed myself to have one bite. It had been years since I had them, and I had sort of forgotten what they were actually like, as far as texture goes. You never forget how good these are. Never.
Well, with one bite it didn't give me the best chance to describe these to you. Bummer. I didn't cave and eat more than the one bite...No really, I promise!
I did enlist the help of Kayla though. She is in advanced culinary at school for goodness sake! She told me, and I quote "these have the texture of a cookie cake; that thick chewy brownie cookie like texture."
Ahhh, that sounds exactly what I remember that one bite being like! So, these red velvet bars with cream cheese frosting have a cookie cake texture.
They are thick and chewy like a brownie and cookie would have. Thanks Kayla!
Do y'all see that? That thick perfect texture of that red velvet? Oh holy-moly, yum!
That cream cheese is sweet but not over the top hurt your teeth sweet. Zack isn't a huge fan of sweets, but these bad boys...he really can't get enough of them!
I've already been ask to make more, and there are still two in the fridge!
These are perfect for Valentine's Day, obviously. But they would also be perfect for Christmas, or any other time of the year that you get a craving for red velvet!
Way easier than baking a cake!
Red Velvet Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting ingredients:
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- red food coloring
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- cocoa powder
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
How do you make Red Velvet Bars?
- Cream together the butter and sugar.
- Beat in the eggs.
- Add the vanilla and food coloring
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder together.
- Slowly add in the flour mixture.
- Press this soft dough using your fingers or a rubber spatula into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. (this dough is sticky!)
- Bake.
- Allow to cool completely before frosting.
How do you make cream cheese frosting?
- Beat together the cream cheese and butter until fully incorporated.
- Beat in the vanilla, and slowly add the powered sugar.
- Beat until creamy.
Here are a few other red velvet recipes we love:
Red Velvet Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Red Velvet Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting have the perfect chewy texture with a cream cheese frosting that will melt in your mouth!
Ingredients
bars
- 2 sticks butter softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 3 ⅓ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
frosting
- 16 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 stick butter softened to room temperature
- ½ tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
::bars:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9X13 baking dish with foil, and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl attached to a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for a good two minutes, until it's nice and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
- With the mixer set to it's lowest setting, add the vanilla and food coloring. (careful with the food coloring, it may splash) Set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder together.
- With the mixture turned on the lowest setting, slowly add in the flour mixture. Once all the flour has been poured in, mix until a soft dough forms.
- Press this soft dough using your fingers or a rubber spatula into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. (this dough is sticky!)
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before frosting.
::frosting:
- Once the bars are completely cooled, start the frosting.
- Beat together the cream cheese and butter until fully incorporated.
- Beat in the vanilla, and slowly add the powered sugar.
- Once fully incorporated and creamy, frost the red velvet bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 653Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 442mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 1gSugar: 45gProtein: 8g
Jessi
these look so good! I need to save this to maybe make for my daughter's birthday party in March!
Karen
oh-emmm-geeee those look divine! That frosting looks incredible and I wish I had a bowl of it alone with a spoon! That would work for me! I'll have to bake these soon!
pebble soup
looking yummy
Tereza
Loving all your recipes, they all look so damn tasty! I've never tried making red velvet but have noted down the ingedients on our shopping list x
Shelby
Those look absolutely amazing. Definitely decadent. I love red velvet and cream cheese frosting! Thanks for the post!
Terri Steffes
Yes, it is tough to be a food blogger and not be able to try much of what you make! I am in that spot right now, too. These look delicious!
Di Hickman
Gotta say that though I'm not much of a red velvet fan these look AH-MAZING! I agree, it's tough being a food blogger. Having to recipe multiple times and I'm not able to eat a lot right now due to a 12 week gym challenge!
Tabitha Shakespeare
Cream cheese frosting is my absolute fave! These look delish!
Debra
Anything with cream cheese in it is so delicious! These really look amazing and would be so festive for Valentines
Robin Rue
This is seriously one of my favorite combinations. I need to make this as soon as possible!
Brandi with Big Fit Fam
THeseare perfect for valentines day! I always try to find something fun and new to make for my family on the 14th to make the day a bit more special!
Rachel
These look incredibly delicious! I will have to make them at home. I shouldn't have looked at this before lunch.
Jeanine
I saw these on Facebook this morning and I immediately wanted to make them. these look incredible, I'm going to make them this weekend!
Roxanne
These look so perfect- for Valentine's Day and any day really! Can't wait to try!
Sarah
These look so yummy, and perfect for Valentines Day! I love anything with Cheesecake, to be honest! 🙂
CourtneyLynne
Omg can we say yum?!?! I just love red velvet!!! I must give your recipe a try.
Barbie's Beauty Bits
Holy yum, I want some of these. I will be making these soon, love cream cheese frosting, regular frosting I will not eat, Yum!
Blythe Alpern
Red velvet and cream cheese frosting anything works for me. These look so heavenly. I'm going to have to put in some more time at the gym because I doubt I could eat just one.
Reesa Lewandowski
This is my favorite cake combo! They look so good and easy too! So fun for Valentine's Day!
Nikki
These look awesome!! My hubs loves red velvet cake so much, so I will definitely need to show this to him.
BRittany
Oh wow... These look delicious! I love red velvet and would absolutely LOVE these! I will definitely be trying them out for the family this week!
Lydia
oh my gosh, I'm drooling these look so good!! I live for red velvet, I'm making these right after I get off from work lol!
Amber
Oh my goodness these look so good! I love the taste of red velvet... and I ADORE cream cheese frosting... but I hate the texture of cake so this presents a problem. And this recipe is its solution! Will be trying it for Valentines day!
Jennifer (JenuineMom)
These red velvet bars look like they'd be heaven. I love how dense they look, too. Thank you for the recipe!
Ashley LaMar
I am all about red velvet desserts in February! I made red velvet cookies last week but these bars look delicious!
Chelsea Damon
I'm dying over these right now! My mom in law just send us a cake mix kit for valentines and when we get home that's what I'm going to make!!