Description
This recipe, “Red Velvet Cookie Dough Bars,” is a multi-layered, decadent treat that combines the best of several worlds: a vibrant pink cookie crust, a rich red velvet cookie dough, and a smooth white chocolate ganache
Ingredients
Pink Cookie Crust:
- 26 Golden OREO® Cookies
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 6–7 drops pink food coloring
Red Velvet Cookie Dough:
- 1 ½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp whole milk
- 8–10 drops red food coloring
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- Sprinkles of your choice
White Chocolate Ganache:
- 8 oz. white chocolate, roughly chopped
- â…“ cup heavy cream
Instructions
Let’s walk through the process:
Make the Pink Cookie Crust:
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Crush OREO®s: Put the Golden OREO® Cookies in a food processor and blend until they turn into fine crumbs. (Alternatively, place them in a Ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin.)
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Combine with Butter and Coloring: Pour the OREO® crumbs into a bowl. Add the melted butter and pink food coloring. Pulse a few times in the food processor or mix with a fork until well blended.
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Line Pan: Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with foil, allowing the foil to hang over the sides for easy removal. Lightly coat the foil with cooking spray.
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Press Crust: Pour the cookie crumbs into the prepared pan and press down firmly into an even layer on the bottom of the pan.
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Chill Crust: Place the pan in the freezer for 30 minutes while you prepare the cookie dough. This helps to firm up the crust.
Make the Red Velvet Cookie Dough:
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Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
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Add Vanilla and Salt: Add the vanilla extract and salt and blend until combined.
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Combine Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour and cocoa powder to the bowl until well combined. The mixture will likely look crumbly.
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Add Milk and Coloring: Keep the mixer on low and add the milk until the dough comes together. Mix in the red food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
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Add Chocolate Chips: Mix in the mini chocolate chips until just combined.
Assemble the Bars:
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Layer Dough: Remove the pan with the chilled cookie crust from the freezer. Press the red velvet cookie dough into an even layer over the cookie crust.
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Make Ganache: Place the chopped white chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Heat the heavy cream in the microwave until it’s near boiling (about 1-2 minutes).
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Combine for Ganache: Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate and let it sit for about 1 minute. Then, whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth.
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Pour Ganache: Pour the white chocolate ganache over the top of the cookie dough and smooth it evenly with a spatula.
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Add Sprinkles: Sprinkle your choice of sprinkles over the ganache.
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Chill: Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for at least 45 minutes to allow the ganache to set.
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Cut and Serve: Once chilled, remove the bars from the pan by lifting the foil overhang. Using a sharp knife, slice into squares.