Fourth of July Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
Delight your guests with these stunning Fourth of July Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars. Each bar features a rich red velvet base topped with a creamy cheesecake layer and optional cream cheese frosting. This dessert is perfect for summer celebrations, combining visual appeal with a luscious flavor profile that will leave everyone wanting more!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz) red velvet cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 8 oz softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine red velvet cake mix, melted butter, and eggs until smooth. Pour into the prepared dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
- For the cheesecake layer, beat softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth, then add vanilla extract.
- Spread the cheesecake mixture over the cooled red velvet base evenly.
- Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until set but jiggly in the center. Cool before refrigerating for at least 2 hours.
- For optional frosting, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until fluffy and spread over chilled bars.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (70g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Use room temperature ingredients for a smoother batter. Consider swapping cream cheese for mascarpone for a lighter texture. Enhance flavor by adding orange zest to the cheesecake mix.