Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

By Rachel // January 28, 2014 // 44 comments //

Creamy red velvet cheesecake bars on top of a rich chocolate crust. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

Is it weird that I’d never heard about red velvet anything until Newlyweds? Also, is it totally weird that I might kinda sorta miss that show even just a little bit? It was entertaining to watch but it was kind in the train wreck way. Hard to look away. Do you think it was all an act, totally for added publicity and ratings, or not?

Anyway…red velvet must be a southern thing and being a northern girl… well… it’s just not nearly as popular up here. I think the love for it is growing and spreading though. I still don’t totally get it. I mean… it’s just chocolate tinted red which in my case means once you’re done baking you’re left looking like a massacre happened in your kitchen. I swear I was extra careful but clearly not careful enough. It’s kind of like when frosting is tinted, you’re almost guaranteed to be left with colorful teeth and lips… or in the case of my kids… their hands, face and clothes.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

Clearly I got over the whole ‘it’s just tinted chocolate’ thing and went along with it for the sake of Valentine’s Day. I mean red is the color of love (said in the totally drawn out immature way… say it with me luuuuuuuvv). So, fun festive red food was a must. I made a miniature version last year, so this year I figured why not make an easier version for those who maybe don’t want to bother with a specialty pan or maybe just want to feed more people at once. I mean I can’t blame anyone for wanting to share yummy food, so I totally get it. The more the merrier.

Following the same idea as before, only in bar form, red velvet cheesecake bars feature a rich chocolate crust, a luscious red velvet cheesecake mixture and are lightly dusted with powdered sugar prior to serving for an added touch. Cut these up into desired sizes to serve any size party or celebration.

Surprise your Valentine with cheesecake this year! Red Velvet cheesecake bars to be exact.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars Recipe from bakedbyrachel.com

Print Recipe

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Creamy red velvet cheesecake bars on top of a rich chocolate crust. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cheesecake

Servings: 12 plus

Ingredients

Crust:

2 C chocolate graham cracker crumbs *See note
1/4 C granulated sugar
6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted

Filling:

20 oz cream cheese softened
1/4 C sour cream
3/4 C granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
2 Tbsp red food coloring

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease exposed pan for easy release.
In a food processor, combine crust ingredients. Transfer to prepared pan. Press down firmly to create an even layer. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese, sour cream and sugar. Scrape bowl as needed. With mixer running on low, add in eggs, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt, followed by red food coloring. Mix until no streaks remain and mixer is smooth.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Spread out into an even layer. Bake for 35 minutes or until set. Allow to cool to room temperature before transferring to the fridge to cool completely.
When ready to serve, carefully remove from pan and slice into even pieces. Optionally top off with powdered sugar or sweetened whipped cream.

Notes

Recipe serves roughly 12-16.

*15 sheets or roughly 1 and 2/3 packages = 2 cups graham cracker crumbs.

An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

More recipes for your Valentine:
Chocolate sugar cookies
Spiral sugar cookies
Mini red velvet cheesecake
Strawberry glazed Valentine donuts
Devil’s food cupcakes with vanilla buttercream
Charlotte chantilly
Chocolate mousse
Coq au vin (chicken with wine)
Lobster mac and cheese
Slow cooker lobster chowder

44 Responses to “Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars”

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Averie @ Averie Cooks — January 28, 2014 at 7:43 am

I love the two-toned nature of them! The red topping, the nice thick crust, and then the powdered sugar hearts. SO PRETTY! pinned
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:06 pm
  
  Thanks Averie! :)
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Julie @ Table for Two — January 28, 2014 at 8:45 am

These are so pretty! Love the heart contrast with the powdered sugar :) I have all the Newlyweds DVDs – I would ;) but you should’ve mentioned it when you were here! We could’ve binged on that and gone to bed at midnight..siiike.
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:06 pm
  
  hahaha midnight… that’s hilarious ;)
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Sommer @ASpicyPerspective — January 28, 2014 at 8:46 am

I love these cheesecake bars! So beautiful to look at and I bet they taste heavenly!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm
  
  Thanks so much Sommer :)
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4

Tieghan — January 28, 2014 at 9:10 am

Not sure I have ever seen such pretty bars! Wow! I love their dark red color!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm
  
  Thanks Tieghan!
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Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough — January 28, 2014 at 9:30 am

These are so pretty! What a fun V-Day dessert!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm
  
  Thanks Stephanie! :)
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Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet — January 28, 2014 at 9:35 am

SO pretty!! I love the powder sugar hearts! Pinned!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm
  
  Thanks so much Anna! :)
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Danae @ reciperunner — January 28, 2014 at 4:00 pm

Red velvet cheesecake, chocolate crust, these are a win in my book! They look beautiful!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm
  
  Thanks Danae!
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Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen — January 28, 2014 at 4:52 pm

Very very pretty! I luuuuuuuve them :)
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm
  
  Why thank you :)
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Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts — January 28, 2014 at 6:37 pm

Wow!! These look amazing – pinned!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm
  
  Thanks Angelyn! :)
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10

vanillasugarblog — January 28, 2014 at 6:59 pm

first Averie makes a red velvet treat and now you–I have to make them!
The color gets me everytime!
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  Rachel — January 28, 2014 at 7:30 pm
  
  You really should! :)
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Heather || Heather's Dish — January 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm

Oh girl, I’m Southern through and through and THESE SOUND SO AMAZING! And the little hearts on top – swoon :)
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  Rachel — January 29, 2014 at 12:42 pm
  
  So awesome to hear! Thanks Heather. :)
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Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs — January 28, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Red velvet AND cheesecake? My hubby would faint. Thanks for sharing this tempting recipe!
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Jennifer | Mother Thyme — January 29, 2014 at 9:05 am

I absolutely love these! The photos are gorgeous!
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  Rachel — January 29, 2014 at 12:43 pm
  
  Thanks Jennifer!
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Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama — January 29, 2014 at 1:09 pm

Love the powdered sugar hearts, it makes these really so adorable!
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Gayle — January 29, 2014 at 8:22 pm

The recipe looks delicious, but I have a question regarding the description of a chocolate base, it only lists graham crackers for the base ingredient.. Is that correct, or how does it have a chocolate bottom?
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  Rachel — January 30, 2014 at 7:39 am
  
  The crust is as listed, including chocolate graham cracker crumbs.
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Jocelyn @BruCrew Life — January 29, 2014 at 10:59 pm

These are gorgeous! And I just love your powdered sugar heart on top of that stack!!! Your photos always make me smile :-)
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Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen — January 30, 2014 at 6:51 am

Gorgeous, Rachel! My gothic/romantic heart has fallen in love with your styling and photography. Loving the red, the contrasts and composition. Swoon! Thanks for sharing, girl! xo
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  Rachel — January 30, 2014 at 7:40 am
  
  Thank you so much Stacy :)
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dina — January 31, 2014 at 4:10 pm

they look yummy! i love anything red velvet!
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  Rachel — January 31, 2014 at 5:01 pm
  
  Thanks Dina!
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Megan {Country Cleaver} — February 3, 2014 at 11:46 pm

Oh these are just positively DREAMY!!!
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  Rachel — February 4, 2014 at 7:18 am
  
  Thanks Megan :)
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Nutmeg Nanny — February 6, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Oh these are so adorable and I bet they taste fantastic :) love it!
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Lisa — February 14, 2014 at 1:46 pm

How do you make the heart with the powdered sugar? I made these bars and look yummy! Want to make that heart though for my honey
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  Rachel — February 15, 2014 at 12:25 pm
  
  I used a small heart cheesecake, but the easiest method would be to cut a heart out of paper and sprinkle powdered sugar, then remove the paper carefully.
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22

Cassy — October 17, 2014 at 7:51 am

These looks awesome! I’m wondering about the consistency of the final product. Would I be able to use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut slices out or does it remain rather soft?
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  Rachel — October 17, 2014 at 9:59 am
  
  It’s possible it could work, but I can’t promise it. Cheesecakes don’t always work well with cookie cutters due to their soft nature.
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23

kelly — February 11, 2015 at 1:11 pm

What if I don’t own a food processor? Any reccomendations?
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  Rachel — February 12, 2015 at 7:22 am
  
  Crush the cookies with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin until only fine crumbs remain, then mix in the butter and sugar.
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24

Kimmii — October 14, 2015 at 3:58 pm

Can an Oreo crust be used instead of a chocolate graham crust?
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  Rachel — October 15, 2015 at 7:45 am
  
  You absolutely could. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars