A soft, chewy, vibrant red cookie bar packed with sweet white chocolate chips—simple to make, visually striking, and irresistibly delicious. These bars bring the nostalgic flavor of red velvet together with the ease of a traybake, making them perfect for gatherings, gifting, or an easy dessert at home.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Red velvet lovers will adore this recipe for its rich cocoa-vanilla flavor and signature crimson color. The bars are thick, tender, and studded generously with white chocolate chips for the perfect sweetness contrast. Because the dough is pressed into a single pan, you skip the scooping and shaping required for cookies—making this a no-fuss, crowd-friendly treat. They slice beautifully, store well, and are incredibly satisfying warm or cooled.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
125 g unsalted butter, softened
100 g light brown soft sugar
75 g white granulated sugar
1 medium egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp strong red food colouring
265 g plain flour
15 g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
300 g white chocolate chips (or chopped white chocolate)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan). Line a 9×9-inch square baking tin with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, light brown soft sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy.
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and red food colouring. Beat again until fully combined.
Add the plain flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda, and sea salt. Mix until a soft cookie dough forms.
Fold in the white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
Press the dough into the lined tin, smoothing it into an even layer.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the surface appears set and dry.
Allow the bars to cool completely in the tin before slicing.
Cut into squares and enjoy.
Servings and timing
This recipe makes 16 cookie bars when cut into even squares. Prep time: approximately 10 minutes Bake time: 18–22 minutes Total time: about 30–35 minutes
Variations
Chocolate Swap: Replace white chocolate chips with milk or dark chocolate for a deeper cocoa punch.
Double Chocolate: Add an extra 50–75 g of chocolate chips for a richer, chunkier texture.
Cream Cheese Swirl: Dollop small amounts of sweetened cream cheese mixture onto the dough and swirl lightly before baking for a cheesecake-style twist.
Nutty Version: Fold in chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch.
Red Velvet Blondies: Increase the vanilla slightly and reduce the cocoa powder to 5 g for a lighter flavor.
Storage/Reheating
Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 4–5 days.
To freeze, wrap individual bars and store for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature.
For a freshly baked feel, warm a bar in the microwave for 10–15 seconds.
FAQs
What type of red food colouring works best?
A strong, gel-based or paste colouring gives the most vibrant red without thinning the dough.
Can I use liquid supermarket food colouring?
It’s not recommended, as liquid colourings are too weak and often result in brown bars instead of red.
Can I make these without cocoa powder?
No—the cocoa powder provides the classic red velvet flavour and helps deepen the colour.
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce the added sea salt to a pinch.
Can I halve the recipe?
Absolutely—use a smaller tin (such as 8×8 inches) and reduce baking time slightly.
Can I add mix-ins besides chocolate?
Yes—nuts, dried fruit, or even caramel pieces work well.
Why are my bars dry?
They may have been overbaked. Remove the bars when the surface looks set but still soft.
How do I achieve a deeper red colour?
Use a high-quality gel food colouring and ensure the cocoa powder is not too dark or overpowering.
Can I make these dairy-free?
Yes—use dairy-free butter and dairy-free white chocolate chips.
Can I make them egg-free?
You can try a standard egg replacer designed for cookies, though the texture may vary.
Conclusion
These red velvet cookie bars deliver everything you love about classic red velvet in an easy, slice-and-share format. Tender, eye-catching, and loaded with white chocolate chips, they’re an ideal dessert for any occasion. Simple to prepare and even easier to enjoy, they’re sure to become a go-to favourite in your baking rotation.
