Description

These Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookie Bars are a sweet treat that blends rich cocoa with a creamy icing. Perfect for sharing, these homemade bars are easy to make with simple ingredients and add a fun twist to any dessert table.

Ingredients

Scale

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, light or dark
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring, liquid or gel
1/2 teaspoon vinegar, distilled or white vinegar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened but not starting to melt
8 ounces full-fat cream cheese
2 1/2 – 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sift if lumpy
1/4 teaspoon salt
1–2 tablespoons cream, whipping cream or table cream, if needed

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) pan or line with parchment paper with an overhang.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
Beat in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, red food coloring, and vinegar until well combined.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients into the butter mixture on low speed until smooth.
Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan, using wax paper if necessary to avoid sticking.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is set and the edges start to pull away from the pan.
Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.

Notes

For a vibrant color, use gel food coloring instead of liquid.
Ensure the butter is softened at room temperature for easier mixing.
If frosting is too thick, add cream gradually until you reach desired consistency.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 350
Sugar: 28g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 70mg