Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

Mmm red velvet. It is like a hybrid of vanilla and chocolate and happens to be one of my favorites. For some reason I never make red velvet flavored desserts unless it's around Valentines day, which makes no sense because other than the fact that it is died red, it isn't holiday specific. This recipe is a red velvet bar made with a box cake mix, and a small layer of cheesecake with mini chocolate chips mixed in. I am not a huge cheesecake fan but there is just enough to add the flavor of cheesecake without it being dense.

Ingredients:

1 box red velvet cake mix
2 eggs, divided
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. sour cream, light
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 pan with tinfoil, and spray with non stick cooking spray. In an electric mixer, cream the butter, egg and cake mix. The dough will be thick like a cookie batter. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth out into a thin layer. In the electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar, sour cream and vanilla together until the cream cheese is whipped to a smooth consistency. Fold in or lightly mix in the mini chocolate chips. Spread out on top of the red velvet mixture.

Bake in the oven for 30-32 minutes until the edges are slightly golden brown. Let cool and then refrigerate overnight before slicing into bars (easier to cut).