Some weeks just don't go like you plan.
I spent hours and hours working in the kitchen creating these Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars and was beyond anxious to share them with you! My kids went absolute bonkers over them and I couldn't get them out to you fast enough. I was working on editing the photos on Photoshop to post the next day when disaster struck......my computer screen went black. Good glory! The computer shut down completely only to never see the light of day again.
The motherboard was fried. (insert crying emjoji here)
Anyone else been in my shoes? If you have, you can agree that this would be the beginning of a very bad day.
The good news is that I walked right into Costco, picked up a brand spanking new computer, spent days downloading all of my programs and all of the Modern Honey framework and I am back up and running! Hallelujah!
Now, let's talk about these beauties because I have been chomping at the bit to share them with you. I literally had vultures (okay, they were really my children + their squad) over here devouring these Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars. My 13-year-old declared that these were his FAVORITE thing I have EVER baked. I basically bake every single day of my life so that's saying something.
You are going to love the simplicity of this recipe. It's as if a Triple Layer Red Velvet Cake has been transformed into a cookie bar. It's a rich, soft red velvet cookie topped off with the perfectly sweetened cream cheese frosting, a mix of butter and cream cheese because obviously "butter makes everything better." You are going to fall in major LOVE with these Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars.
Since 4th of July is coming up and is one of the biggest entertaining days of the year, this is the ultimate bar to bring to the BBQ. Top it with red and blue M & M's or sparkling sugar and you have one festive looking bar.
Cookie bars are actually one of the easiest and most underrated desserts. Cakes can be complicated as there's no room for error when stacking cake layers and your frosting skills have to be on point. Here's one of the best things about these bars - you literally spread the cookie batter in a 9 x 13 pan, place the bars in the oven, and top the bars with simple sweet cream cheese frosting. This cream cheese frosting is ridiculously delicious.
Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup Butter softened
- 1 ½ cup Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Red Food Coloring
- ⅓ cup Cocoa Powder
- 2 cups Flour
- ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup Butter softened
- 1 - 8 ounce pkg. Cream Cheese softened
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla optional
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt if using unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 4 minutes.
- Add eggs, vanilla, and red food coloring and mix until combined.
- Add cocoa, flour, baking soda, and salt and stir together.
- Lightly spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick cooking spray and spread batter evenly in pan.
- Bake for 18 - 22 minutes, or until toothpick or cake tester comes out clean. Cool.
- Frosting:
- In large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and stir until combined. Add optional vanilla and salt. Chill for 5 minutes.
- Spread onto cooled red velvet cookie bars. Garnish with sparkling sugar, white sprinkles, or M & M's. Cut into squares
I can't wait to hear about how much you LOVE these Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars. Share this recipe with your friends because that's what good friends do. 🙂 Thanks for your amazing support! xoxo - Melissa
Happy Baking!
RENEE HILL-GRIMES
Love! Love! Love these!!!! So good ♥️
Kristine Alessandrini
Can you make these with white chips instead of icing them, but still as a bar cookie?
Julia
Would it be possibly to make these a couple days ahead of time? How would I go about storing them?
Lisa Woodside
We made the recipe twice using different ovens and each time had to bake the cookie bars far longer than the 17-20 minutes (e.g. a total of 30 minutes) mentioned in the recipe. We also used a 9X13 pan and our bars came out much thicker than the ones shown on the web page. Curious if others have experienced similar results or might offer any suggestions.
Kristi
The recipe says that you need to add cream before you add the cocoa and flour. Is the recipe calling for heavy cream? And if so, how much? I want to make these and I want to get them right.
Thank you
Modern Honey
Hi Kristi! I am sorry that it was confusing. It just means to "cream" it all together, meaning to mix until it looks smooth and creamy. I actually just updated it to "mix" to avoid any confusion. 🙂 Let me know how you like them and have a great day! - Melissa
Kristi
Hank you for the clarification
Bonnie
Planning to make these for the 4th! Since the frosting has cream cheese, does it need to be refrigerated? This is probably a stupid question, but I was planning on making them today for tomorrow and don't want anyone getting sick! Thanks!
Modern Honey
Hi Bonnie! That's not a silly question at all. I love to cover my baked goods and put in the freezer overnight so they don't dry out. You can also chill them in the refrigerator but sometimes it can dry them out. They are the perfect thing to make for tomorrow so I hope you love them! 🙂 - Melissa
Amanda W.
I made these yesterday with my 12 yr old son:) We both agree they are divine & they taste even better then second day (we stored them in the fridge bc it's HOT in Texas:) Thank you! We are also BIG fans of your Marry Me cookies and your Chocolate cake!
Modern Honey
Hi Amanda! I LOVE to hear that you loved the red velvet cookie bars. That's a great idea to store them in the refrigerator. The frosting is so yummy when it's chilled so I couldn't agree more. We are in AZ so I understand the heat in the summer. Thank you so much for your kind words. xo - Melissa
Shirlyn
Hey, MH these are to die for. I am recouping at our Son's home and their Tatum and I, with me sitting down and her doing all the leg work got these made and devoured all in one evening. YUMMY !!!!!!. Thanks for another deliciously fun thing to make and share with my cute family whereever I go.
Modern Honey
Hi sweet Shirlyn! Well, I hope that you are recouping and are going to be feeling better soon. I am so glad to hear that you made them and LOVED them. We are on our 2nd batch in 3 days so we are eating them up like crazy over here too. Thanks for taking the time to comment! xoxo
Modern Honey
Hi Karly! Amen, sista! I love a good cookie bar loaded with frosting. The more the merrier! Have a great day. 🙂
Karly
I already know I'm going to be obsessed with this one. Mostly because there's just as much frosting as there is cookie. 🙂 Love!!!