I love recipes that are versatile and can easily be for any time of the year. I also love desserts that are special to the Christmas holidays. These Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars are not only sweet and delicious, but they are special and great for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year!
Your guests will be wowed at this gorgeous cookie bars. The layer of red velvet cookie with a thick layer of cream cheese icing makes these very hard to resist.
Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars are a delightful twist on the classic red velvet cake, combining the soft, chewy texture of sugar cookies with the rich, chocolaty flavor and vibrant red color of red velvet.
These bars are perfect for when you want the essence of a red velvet dessert without the time commitment of making a full cake. They are easy to prepare and come together in a single baking pan, making them a convenient choice for parties, holidays, or whenever you’re craving a sweet treat.
If making these for a festive Christmas party, add some red, white, and green, sprinkles! You could also sprinkle white chocolate chips or a light dusting of cocoa powder to add a decorative finish to the top layer, making them look as good as they taste.
The batter for Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars starts with a simple sugar cookie dough, infused with a touch of cocoa powder to achieve that signature red velvet flavor. A splash of vanilla adds warmth, while a few drops of red food coloring create the vivid color that makes these bars stand out. The dough is pressed into a baking dish and baked until just set, resulting in bars that are tender and slightly cakey, with a soft and chewy bite.
Once the bars are baked and cooled, they’re topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. The tangy sweetness of the frosting balances perfectly with the mild chocolate flavor of the red velvet, creating a combination that’s rich but not overly sweet.
Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars are versatile and easy to customize. For an extra layer of flavor, you can mix in chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, or chopped pecans into the batter. You could also add a hint of cinnamon or espresso powder to deepen the flavor profile.
These bars can be sliced into squares or rectangles, and they hold up well when transported, making them a great choice for potlucks or bake sales. With their festive look and classic taste, they’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Try these peppermint cheesecake cookies and this scrumptious lemon poppy seed loaf, too!
Where will you serve these red velvet sugar cookie bars?
Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars
Red Velvet Cookie Bars are a sweet treat that everyone will love! They are a delicious dessert you can take to a Christmas Party or Valentine's Day party!
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoon red food coloring
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cups butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
Next, add in the eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Stir until well combined.
To the large bowl, add in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
Place the dough into the bottom of the baking dish.
Using your hand or the back of a measuring cup, press into the baking dish.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
To make the cream cheese frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.
Top the cooled bars with frosting and enjoy!
Notes
After you place the frosting on top of the bars you can choose to refrigerate before slicing.
Wiping the blade off a sharp knife into between cuts will allow for a nice clean cut!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 283Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 199mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 3g
The writer is not a doctor or nutritionist and this nutritional information is just a guideline. Please consult your doctor or nutritionist for more accurate information.