Description

These Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookie Bars are a delightful treat with their rich flavor and creamy frosting. Simple to prepare with ingredients like red food coloring, cocoa powder, and cream cheese, they are perfect for celebrating love or simply satisfying your sweet cravings.

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, in addition to the full egg
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 your oven to 350F (180C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easier removal.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well mixed.
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, red food coloring, and vinegar until there are no lumps of butter remaining in the mixture.
Gradually incorporate the dry mixture into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until there are no visible dry streaks.
Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, using wax paper between your hands and the dough to prevent sticking if needed.
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until the top is set and edges start to pull away from the pan.
Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting them.

Notes

Feel free to adjust the amount of red food coloring to achieve your desired shade.
Allow the bars to cool entirely to avoid the frosting melting when applied.
These bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 210
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 31g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 35mg