Red Velvet Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

What can be more iconic to serve on Valentine’s Day than a Red Velvet Cake.  These Red Velvet Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a different take on the traditional recipe using the same great flavors we love while simplifying the baking process!

These bars are so decadent and rich with hints of cocoa and sweet vanilla mixed with the tang of cream cheese.  It is a taste sensation in every bite as my mother in law would say!  The vibrant red color of the cake bars with the light and fluffy frosting makes these perfect for serving to your sweetheart any day of the year, not just Valentine’s Day.  Not only are they gorgeous but they are easy to make as well!

This simplified recipe is so delicious and takes no time at all, 15 min of prep and 15-18 minutes for baking and you have yourself a gorgeous decadent dessert!  This recipe starts out like any other basic cake or cookie recipe, cream the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl until fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla extract then slowly mix in the dry ingredients until incorporated.  Place dough into prepared pan, while eating a tiny bit (yes, I am one of those I LOVE raw cookie dough or any dessert dough for that matter) then bake.

Depending on how much frosting you like on your bars you can probably halve this frosting recipe.  I had a pretty good layer of frosting about ½ an inch and still had a cup and a half of frosting left over.  Which tastes amazing on these Vanilla Cinnamon Protein Pancakes.

Delight your loved ones with this super simple and decadent dessert.  Mmmm all this writing about them is making me hungry, I am going to have to sneak one now with my afternoon espresso!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

For the Bars

• 3 cups flour
• 1/3 Cups unsweetened cocoa powder, I used Ghirardelli
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Red Food Coloring, I used gel food coloring to get a super deep and rich red color

For the Frosting

• 16 oz Cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 Cup butter, softened
• 3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 13×9 inch pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.  Set the pan aside.

In a medium bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking power, and baking soda, and stir to combine.

In the bowl of a mix master, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Add one egg, mix until fully incorporated then add the other egg.

Slowly pour in the vanilla and food coloring.

Add the dry ingredients ½ a cup at a time, mixing until fully combined.

Place the batter into the prepared pan and press down with a spatula to spread evenly into the pan.  The batter will be sticky so a spatula works best instead of fingers to pat down.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

While the cake bars are baking add the butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a mix master and whip until combined, around 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar in 1/2 Cup batches and whip gently until combined. Add the vanilla, then whip for an additional 3 minutes.

Once the bars are completely cool frost and decorate with sprinkles if desired.

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