Decadent Red Velvet Dessert Bars with Cream Cheese Swirl

If you love red velvet cake, you’ll enjoy these homemade Red Velvet Bars made from scratch without cake mix, finished with a small batch of cream cheese frosting. They’re small-batch sugar cookie bars baked in a loaf pan for easy portioning.

Every February I like to share a red velvet recipe. These Red Velvet Bars are designed for simplicity: no cake mix, no complicated cutters, and minimal leftover treats. Baked in a 9×5 loaf pan, you can cut them into 3 to 8 bars depending on how large you want them. I top them with a small batch of cream cheese frosting and decorate with sprinkles for a festive touch, though any sprinkles will work year-round.

I often find myself regretting missed opportunities to bake for holidays—unused sprinkles, cupcake liners left in the drawer. These bars are a quick way to celebrate without committing to a large batch or elaborate decorating. They’re ideal for sharing with a loved one, thanking a neighbor, or brightening someone’s day during cold weather.

Valentine’s Day is a nice excuse to bake a small batch and share it with friends, family, or anyone who deserves a sweet gesture. Traditional red velvet pairs beautifully with cream cheese frosting, so a small batch of that frosting is the perfect finishing touch for these bars.

So, what does red velvet taste like?

Red velvet is typically a mild cocoa-flavored cake made with buttermilk and a touch of vinegar, giving it a tender crumb and subtle tang. It uses cocoa powder rather than melted chocolate, so the flavor is more delicate than a traditional chocolate cake. For these bars, I focused on the cocoa and the red food coloring to create that familiar red velvet profile in a cookie-bar format.

More Red Velvet Recipes

• Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake
• Small Batch Red Velvet Cupcakes

More Cookie Bar Recipes

If you enjoyed these bars, try other cookie bar recipes:

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars with Apple Butter Frosting
• Gingerbread Cookie Bars
• Coconut Lime Meltaway Cookie Bars
• Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownie Cookie Bars
• S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Red Velvet Sugar Cookies Bars

Yield:
8 squares

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
20 minutes

Total Time:
35 minutes

If you love red velvet cake, you’ll love these homemade Small Batch Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars—made from scratch without cake mix and topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
• 1 recipe Small Batch Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda.
3. In a separate large bowl, beat the sugar and softened butter until light and creamy, about 2–3 minutes.
4. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and red food coloring until smooth, about 1 minute.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until a dough forms. Do not overmix.
6. Spread the sticky dough evenly in the prepared pan using an offset spatula. Bake 20–25 minutes, or until the edges pull away slightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before spreading the cream cheese frosting.

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