Description
Deliciously rich and festive Red Velvet Cookie Bars combining the classic smoothness of red velvet with chunks of Oreos both inside and on top, finished with a creamy cream cheese frosting and colorful Valentine’s Day sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a visually stunning and indulgent treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup Hershey cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring
- 16 Oreos, chopped into small pieces (divided)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- ½ cup chopped Oreos (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, kosher salt, and baking powder until evenly combined and set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add Food Coloring: Beat in the red gel food coloring until the dough is uniformly vibrant red.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture, beating on low speed until just combined—avoid overmixing.
- Add Oreo Pieces: Gently fold in half of the chopped Oreos into the dough using a spatula to distribute them evenly without breaking.
- Press Dough and Top: Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining chopped Oreo pieces over the top of the dough.
- Bake: Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting to prevent melting or sliding of the frosting.
- Prepare Frosting and Decorate: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy whipping cream, beating until light and fluffy. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Finish by sprinkling Valentine’s Day sprinkles and additional chopped Oreos on top for a festive look.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for smooth frosting.
- Do not overmix the flour into the batter to keep the bars tender.
- The frosting can be adjusted in thickness by adding more heavy cream if too thick or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Store leftover bars covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Allow bars to reach room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.
