These Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars are a red velvet lovers dream come true! They're perfect for sharing and you'll leave everyone craving more!
Have you ever noticed that people who like red velvet don't just "like" it, they LOVE it! Well this recipe will stand up to any red velvet lovers critiques! It has just the right amount of chocolate and, in my opinion, the cheesecake layer is much easier to transport and eat than frosting.
Since these are bars, they are great for sharing! You can take them to work, pack them for a special school treat or bring then to a party! They make a really special Valentines Day treat for school friends too!
How to make Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
The first step is preparing the pan. There's no point in making great red velvet bars if you can't get them out of the pan...believe me, I've done it! You can use parchment paper AND non-stick spray but if you don't have parchment, just spray the pan very well with non-stick spray. If you have neither, just coat the pan with butter.
Next you'll want to melt the butter and the chocolate together. I use the semi-sweet baking squares to make it easy to measure. You can find them at the grocery store by the chocolate chips and the bar will have measurements on it so you know exactly how much to melt. I also cut the butter into smaller pieces so it melts faster. Once you've melted them together, set the bowl aside.
Now it's time to make the red velvet batter! You'll want to do this in a larger bowl. Add in the sugar, eggs, vanilla, and red food coloring and beat together. It should be a bright pinkish red color, as will your fingers. Then you'll add in the melted chocolate mixture that will give it that deep richer red color. Beat together to combine.
Then you can sprinkle in the flour and gently stir together with a spatula until there is no more white flour showing. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
Now for my favorite part...the cheesecake! Now here are the very tricky instructions: add all the cheesecake ingredients to a bowl and beat to combine. Phew! Try to restrain yourself from licking the spoon (I failed).
Now it may seen like too much cheesecake batter but it's not...you're welcome! Dollop spoonfuls onto the red velvet batter and swirl it together with a knife or spoon.
Side note: when I first thought about making this recipe, I thought "Oh these Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars are going to be so cute for Valentines day. I'm going to swirl the batter into little hearts on top." Well, I clearly have no talent in the heart swirling department. So, if you get yours to look way better than mine (which shouldn't be hard), please send me a picture!
Anyways, no matter how it looks, it will be delicious and that's what we're here for!
So after swirling your swirls to your hearts content, bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Then let them cool on the counter while your house fills with the smell of heaven. Then slice and enjoy!
Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Equipment
- Parchment Paper
- Non-stick spray
- 8x8 baking dish
Ingredients
Red Velvet Layer
- ½ cup salted butter
- 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons red food coloring
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
Cheesecake Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining it with parchment paper and spraying it with non-stick spray. (if you don't have parchment, just spray very well.)
- Add the butter and the baking chocolate to a small bowl and melt together in the microwave. Start with 30 seconds, then stir and continue in 30 second intervals until melted. Set aside to cool.
- In a larger bowl, add in the sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, red coloring. Beat together with an electric mixer or whisk.
- Add in the chocolate/butter mixture and beat again until combined.
- Sprinkle the flour over the batter and use a spatula to incorporate into the batter.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and set aside while you make the cheesecake mixture.
- Add all of the cheesecake ingredients (cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla) to a small bowl and beat until combined.
- Spoon the mixture into dollops all over the red velvet batter.
- Use a spoon or knife to swirl the cheesecake mixture into the red velvet batter.
- Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the pan then slice and serve!
Angela Allison says
These are seriously amazing... and addicting! My whole family went crazy for these. Will definitely make again for a Valentine's Day get together I'm having! Thanks so much for sharing.
Coco and Ash says
Thank you Angela!
Denay DeGuzman says
These beautiful red velvet cheesecake bars are perfect for Valentine's Day! I've added it to the list of recipes I'll be making and enjoying in February.
Mahy says
Ah, these bars look outstanding! I really like the texture - just the way I like my bars to be. And the looks are perfect. Have I said that already?! 🙂
Coco and Ash says
Thanks so much Mahy!
Annissa says
What stunning bars! These would make a perfect Valentine's Day dessert. Thanks for the recipe!
Coco and Ash says
Thank YOU!
Jenn says
Red velvet and cheesecake - when I saw this combination, I HAD to try them. Amazing! We gobbled them up right away and I 'll be making another batch this weekend! YUM!
Coco and Ash says
Thanks Jen!!
Jo says
I need to make bars for my granddaughter’s graduation. I would love to make these since everyone loved my trial batch but I want to use a jelly roll pan so would need to increase the recipe by 4. Can I do this?
Coco and Ash says
I have not made these in a jelly roll pan but it’s worth a shot! 🙂
Jazmine Dawson says
Is there any way to use cocoa powder instead? I don’t have any baking chocolate and cannot take my terrible-twos-toddler to the store lol.
Coco and Ash says
I haven't tried subbing the chocolate in this recipe so I can't say for sure. I know that it would definitely affect the moisture level though so I'm not sure it would work. Sorry!
Earl L Berwick III says
Could you put this into a pie tin and serve it like a pie?
Tracy says
can you use red velvet cake mix for the red velvet part? Cant wait to make these!
Coco and Ash says
I haven’t tried that so I can’t say for sure. But I’m always here for a shortcut so let me know if it works!
Kara Wade says
These are delicious but my swirls turned out nothing like yours. Yours are so pretty :)) I’m not giving up. I’m going try again next weekend!!
ErinL says
i just made these to bring in for valentines day and they are delicious! i saw your note about it being a bit hard to swirl, so i reserved a bit of the batter and swirled it *on top* of the cream cheese mixture and it was much easier to get the pretty colors swirled into designs!
Ecstasy says
My daughter loves cheesecake and red velvet so I decided them to combine them both with the aid of this recipe. She absolutely loved it and finished it all in no time.
D-J Serra says
I made these for my son's girlfriend as a birthday dessert. There were four of us, and the recipe said it makes 9 squares. Knowing my guests were going to grab some to take home, I made a double batch in a 9x13 pan. I was able to cut 20 squares ( shh, I nibbled a tiny piece of one edge as I cut) and there were some for the next day. These will definitely be added to my favorites! Many thanks
Ashley Ables says
How do you store them after cooking, if you’re not ready to serve it right away? Or do you suggest baking it the day of? I want to make them for a special event.
Coco and Ash says
If you make them a few days ahead of time, I would store them in the refrigerator and then let them come to room temperature before serving. 🙂
Janice B DeLay says
I found this recipe in 20 2021. I have never been interested in or wanted to try anything red velvet. I also grandson kept telling me how much he loved red velvet cake so one day on a whim I started searching for recipes and I found this Red Velvet cheesecake bar recipe on Coco and ash and his three grandchildren your mother and father every birthday are requesting this as their this properly or birthday baked tree gift, Janice B DeLay
Janice B DeLay says
I found your recipe in 2021. I made it as a surprise for my oldest grandchild. I have never made anything Red Velvet in my entire baking family career. Your recipe has been such a hit that every birthday in the family when I ask what their wish for a baked treat on their birthday they all reply red development, cream cheese squares. There were forever hit in my family so thank you for your recipe. Just a quick question, though this time, although my bad it was horrible it was on the thick side. Any suggestions that you think I might have done?