Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Okay, Valentine’s Day. I’m ready for ya!

Who am I kidding? I’m ready all year long! Nothing is more fun than the hearts and flowers and chocolate. Especially the chocolate. And the treats! I really can’t get enough. Too bad Kenny hates Valentine’s Day. More on that some other time.

These red velvet cheesecake bars should get your holiday going. The bottom is a super-easy cake mix cookie bar, and the top a simple layer of cheesecake. And let’s not forget the heart sprinkle bling.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

I’m going to be very honest here: I’m not a red velvet person. To me, if you’re using cocoa powder, put a lot in the mix, not just a trace. And the whole red food dye thing really throws me. But I can see that it all sure is pretty!

Besides, whenever I bake something I’m not crazy about myself, I just bring it into work and people devour it there. All my red velvet fanatics were pretty happy about these bars, so I’m gonna assume they were the essence of red velvet happiness. And I did enjoy the cheesecake top.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

It’s important for me to experiment with flavors that aren’t my favorite, or otherwise I’m not much of a baker. It’s just so hard to taste test flavors that I naturally dislike. It’s a lot like teaching a book in my English class that I’m not so crazy about. On an intellectual level, I can recognize the worth of a book or a dessert I dislike, but personally, just…no.

It’s like snow. I think I used to like it, and I appreciate it aesthetically from a whole “wow is Mother Nature powerful” point of view. But boy, do I hate it. Last night the D.C. area got a measly inch, but because our local governments were totally focused on the two feet of snow headed this way Friday night, they ignored the one inch and didn’t treat the roads.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Result? Chaos. It took people 9 hours to get home from relatively short distances. It’s not the first time this kind of SNAFU has occurred, either. I got to stay up all night waiting for Kenny to get home. So yeah, snow is nice, or something. I just don’t like it. Give me a beach every day!

And give me a classic brownie with the beach. But today, red velvet will win!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

These are an easy way to give someone a cute Valentine’s surprise. The bottom layer mixes up in literally seconds, and the top is a simple cheesecake. No bells and whistles, unless you count the sprinkles. How could you not love those?

When all is said and done, you have a bar worth remembering. And if it’s not your cup of tea, you can still appreciate how pretty red velvet is. Or snow. Doesn’t mean we have to marry them!

 

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

Cookie Base
1 box red velvet cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
Cheesecake
8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened (I used light)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
heart sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, leaving enough to hang over the sides. Coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Combine all of the red velvet cookie base ingredients in a medium bowl until a stiff dough forms. Press the dough into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.
  3. While the dough is baking, make the cheesecake. In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with the sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla and stir again until completely incorporated.
  4. Gently spread the cheesecake batter over the partially cooked bars. The cookie dough underneath will cave in a little with the weight. Just do your best to get the batter evenly distributed.
  5. Bake the bars for an additional 20-25 minutes until golden at the edges and set. Cool completely.
  6. Refrigerate overnight and cut into squares.
http://justaboutbaked.com/red-velvet-cheesecake-bars/

 

 

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 24 Comments

  1. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    YES!! I’m the same way about red velvet but I can’t ever stop making it because it’s so darn pretty. Love these!
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Slow Cooker Berry CrumbleMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep. It’s the looks that got it where it is! Taste-wise, I am not yet convinced it’s special.

  2. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

    These look beautiful!! I mainly like red velvet because of the usual cream cheese frosting that accompanies it. Or in this tasty treat’s case, delectable cheesecake layer! I totally know what you’re feeling about the snow too, except New Jersey is usually prepared for 18″+ of snow…I, on the other hand, am not 🙁
    Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss recently posted…The 21 Day Fix Week 2 RecapMy Profile

    1. Mir

      It’s really coming down out there, Jessica! And this cheesecake layer is much better than frosting!

  3. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    I’m not big into Valentine’s Day, but I definitely can’t resist all of the red and pink hearts this time of year! Love the looks of these cheesecake bars. I think I could dive head first into this plate of deliciousness!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Mint Nutella Energy BitesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Wish you could take them off my hands, Gayle! They’re not my thing. 🙂

  4. Kate @ Framed Cooks

    I’m not a red velvet person either…but I think now I need to give it another chance. Happy Early Valentines Day! xo
    Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Chicken with White Wine GravyMy Profile

    1. Mir

      If I have to do red velvet, I want cheesecake there too!

  5. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    People always have such mixed feelings about V-Day don’t they. I personally like it and any excuse to show someone that they love them is a good thing, surely 🙂
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on The Hungry Healthy Happy Book is Now on Sale! by Katie BrysonMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Could not agree more! Love is great! Celebrate it!

  6. annie@ciaochowbambina

    This is too cute! They’ll certainly help ease the pain of a 9 hour commute home! Have a nice weekend, friend!
    annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…RumChata French Toast with Warm Berry CompoteMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m not sure if anything eases that pain, but we’re trying, Annie!

  7. Megan - The Emotional Baker

    I used to love snow, but now I’m like thanks for coming by, but now you can leave. & I understand what you mean about red velvet – but I still love it because it’s so pretty! These bars are amazing!

    1. Mir

      Exactly. It’s pretty for a few hours, and then I want clean streets!

  8. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    These bars look fabulous! Love your frosting:bar ratio 🙂
    Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Classic Kale Salad {Vegan + GF}My Profile

    1. Mir

      Cheesecake: bar ratio, you mean! It’s so much better than just frosting!

  9. Kennedy Cole| KCole's Creative Corner

    Yum! I love cheesecake and red velvet, so I bet that they would be just pure amazing together. This is such a creative, beautiful dessert! Thanks for sharing! 😀
    Kennedy Cole| KCole’s Creative Corner recently posted…Parmesan Baked Eggs with Mushrooms {Video}My Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Kennedy! Instead of cream cheese frosting, I went with cheesecake!

  10. Amanda

    These are so adorable! I’ve never really felt drawn toward red velvet desserts. I’m usually too focused on dark chocolate to notice anything else. But these are just too cute! I can really imagine kids especially gobbling these up.
    Amanda recently posted…Healthy Apple MuffinsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yep, I’m with you on red velvet. But now and then, it’s a nice change of pace!

  11. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    WAYYYYY back when I was little, before I developed an allergy to cocoa I used to L-O-V-E red velvet ALL the things. Like, small obsession. It’s one of the only things I remember, so I miss about cocoa. Obviously these bars are torture to my soul. 🙂 Love the cookie mix bottom and the cheesecake top. Plus the heart bling is EVERYTHING! love love love! Totally need to make these for Boy for V-day! Cheers, my dear! Hope you were safe and warm in the snow storm!
    Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Honey Ginger Garlic Chicken Carrot Noodle BowlsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m so sad about your cocoa allergy, Chey. Really. Whenever I make a non-chocolate recipe I seriously think about you!

  12. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life

    I have to be in the mood for red velvet…which doesn’t happen very much because I like full on chocolate! LOL! These are such pretty cheesecake bars though. I can see why everyone gobbled them up!
    Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted…Chicken Alfredo CalzonesMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I’m all about the full on chocolate too!

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