Red Velvet Cookie Bars

Ingredients

For the Bars

• 3 cups flour
• ⅓ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 oz bottle red food coloring

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 16 oz cream cheese softened
• ½ cup butter softened
• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13×9 inch pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and grease. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking power, and baking soda, and stir to combine.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until soft and fluffy, around 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at time, mixing until fully incorporated. Slowly stir in the vanilla and food coloring. Add the dry ingredients in batches, mixing until just combined.
• Scoop the batter into the 13×9 inch pan and press down with a spatula to spread evenly into the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
• While the cookie bars cool, add the butter and cream cheese to a large mixing bowl and beat until combined and fluffy, around 5 minutes. Add the powdered sugar in batches and beat gently until combined. Add the vanilla, then beat for an additional 3 minutes. Frost the cookie bars, cut, and enjoy.