Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Creamy red velvet cheesecake bars on top of a rich chocolate crust. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
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.
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
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
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
I love the two-toned nature of them! The red topping, the nice thick crust, and then the powdered sugar hearts. SO PRETTY! pinned
Thanks Averie! :)
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.
hahaha midnight… that’s hilarious ;)
I love these cheesecake bars! So beautiful to look at and I bet they taste heavenly!
Thanks so much Sommer :)
Not sure I have ever seen such pretty bars! Wow! I love their dark red color!
Thanks Tieghan!
These are so pretty! What a fun V-Day dessert!
Thanks Stephanie! :)
SO pretty!! I love the powder sugar hearts! Pinned!
Thanks so much Anna! :)
Red velvet cheesecake, chocolate crust, these are a win in my book! They look beautiful!
Thanks Danae!
Very very pretty! I luuuuuuuve them :)
Why thank you :)
Wow!! These look amazing – pinned!
Thanks Angelyn! :)
first Averie makes a red velvet treat and now you–I have to make them!
The color gets me everytime!
You really should! :)
Oh girl, I’m Southern through and through and THESE SOUND SO AMAZING! And the little hearts on top – swoon :)
So awesome to hear! Thanks Heather. :)
Red velvet AND cheesecake? My hubby would faint. Thanks for sharing this tempting recipe!
I absolutely love these! The photos are gorgeous!
Thanks Jennifer!
Love the powdered sugar hearts, it makes these really so adorable!
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?
The crust is as listed, including chocolate graham cracker crumbs.
These are gorgeous! And I just love your powdered sugar heart on top of that stack!!! Your photos always make me smile :-)
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
Thank you so much Stacy :)
they look yummy! i love anything red velvet!
Thanks Dina!
Oh these are just positively DREAMY!!!
Thanks Megan :)
Oh these are so adorable and I bet they taste fantastic :) love it!
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
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.
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?
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.
What if I don’t own a food processor? Any reccomendations?
Crush the cookies with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin until only fine crumbs remain, then mix in the butter and sugar.
Can an Oreo crust be used instead of a chocolate graham crust?
You absolutely could. Enjoy!