Years ago, when I worked in the corporate world, I was a willing participant in holiday potlucks.
“I’ll bring the Christmas cookies!” I’d declare with glee, enthusiastically sacrificing a weekend to bake goodies around the clock. For years, this tradition continued – me, offering a variety of sweet treats in whimsical holiday colour and shapes, and the others, oohing and ahhing over my baking prowess.
Until one fateful year, when she-who-will-not-be-named brought in the most decadent, most delicious holiday bars I had ever tasted.
“What are these?” I asked in wonder.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied modestly. “I’ve always just known them as Santa Baby! Bars.”
From then on, her bars took top billing at the annual holiday potluck. Defeated, I swore I would never bake again. (I’m kidding, of course. But it really was a shot to my ego!) However, not one to let a good thing go, I cornered her before I left for maternity leave, practically begging her to share the recipe.
“I don’t mind!” she replied. “It’s so simple I can tell you right now!”
Jaw. Dropped. It was a simple recipe! One that I knew I could recreate easily, and in advance of Christmas, I’m so happy to share it with you. Santa Baby! Bars incorporate everything I love – red velvet cake, cream cheese, and of course, HERSHEY’S CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips.
The bars are quite rich and gooey, so fair warning – even though I’ve sliced them in 3 x 3-inch squares (relatively speaking, coffee shop size) you may want to make smaller portions if you are enjoying these as part of a dessert potluck or cookie/bar exchange.
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 box Red Velvet cake mix
1/4 cup of unsalted butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY’S CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips
additional powdered sugar, crushed candy canes and HERSHEY’S CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips for garnish, if desired
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter and one egg. Press by hand into a greased 9×13” baking pan.
Mix cream cheese, two eggs and vanilla; incorporate powdered sugar one cup at a time until well mixed. Spread over top of cake layer. Sprinkle with HERSHEY’S CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips.
Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes; remove and cool completely. (You may choose to refrigerate the bars at this point until you’re ready to serve.)
Just before serving, sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar and add crushed candy canes and HERSHEY’S CHIPITS Milk Chocolate Chips. Cut into bars and enjoy.
This season, sprinkle some fun into your holiday recipes! HERSHEY’S CHIPITS come in more than a dozen delicious varieties and sizes. And, if you’re a baking enthusiast, don’t forget to enter CHIPITS Baker of the Week Sweepstakes! Simply take a shot at recreating their Recipe of the Week, snap a photo of the results, and upload to their Facebook page. You’ll be entered for a chance to win Baker of the Week, weekly baking prize packs, and one grand prize – a KITCHENAID Stand Mixer!
As for me? Forget about cookies and milk – this year, I’m leaving out Santa Baby! Bars. It’s the easiest way to ensure you’ll make the “nice” list – even when you’ve been a little naughty!
This post is sponsored by HERSHEY’S CHIPITS. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
Yum! Everything looks soooo delicious :)
Hello Lena! I think I just gained 5 lbs from looking at the pics of this delicious dessert! I have one cheat day a week so I will definitely indulge in this one! Thank you! So, glad I visited your blog as I know we interact via Instagram! So, impressive!
I’m going to have to try this recipe they look so pretty.
Looks so good!! Making my list (of ingredients required!)
Yummy! Can’t wait to try these delicious Santa Baby! Bars and thanks for sharing this recipe Lena.
This is definitely on my baking list. I’m not much of a enthusiastic baker, I’m good at it, I’d rather cook a meal then bake. But my sister who loves baking can’t do it this year so I’m going to do it.
Thanks for sharing such an awesome recipe, I am going to have to make these up now!!
oh my I need new stuff to bake and this is just amazing, thanks adding to the list :D
They look delicious and very simple to make. I’ve taken the recipe down.
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
In my opinion, Hershey Chocolate Chips win every single time and Santa Baby Bars are no exception! :) wtg
These look delicious! I bet they are a real conversation piece too! I love to bake or cook a little out side of the box, so I will defiantly be making these! Thanks for the share!
I’ll have to try making this recipe, it looks so good.
These look amazing! Pinning this recipe to try!
Oh my love trying new things insearch the blogs to try new stuff thank you i will be trying these
These look so yummy. going on my baking list
Wow, these look amazing! I’m going to be starting my baking soon, and these are going on the list!!
Yep, making these, for sure! I’ve pinned for later, thanks for sharing!
My daughter & I do alot of baking at this time of year!
That’s a fairly easy recipe too! They sound delicious!
Wow,what a delicious dessert thanks i will try these over the holidays !
They look so yummy and so festive too!
They look yummy, will have to try it out.
putting these on my baking list ! they really do look good!
those love scrumptious , i really have to try them out thanks for sharing :)
look scrumptious lol
Yummy!!! This looks amazing!!! Cant wait to make it!
will have to make these for the grand kids!
Oh these look so festive!! They don’t seem difficult to make, I might be able to swing it! Thanks for sharing girlie <3
Looks amazing! And I even have a bag of Hershey’s mint chocolate chips in the cupboard, although we may have eaten a few already. Hope there’s half a cup left :)
WOW, these Santa Baby! Holiday bars look heavenly, I’d love one right now with my cup of tea! Thx very much for the recipe & inspiration!
We are making these tonight and i can’t wait to test them.Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I can totally see why you love them,they are so delicious and have added them to my top favorite recipes !!
ooohhh I wanna try this – maybe with red candies for valentine’s day!
Oh these sound amazing. I definitely need to try this recipe.
Say WHAT?!?!?! These look so good! I can’t wait for an occasion to bake these and share! Santa Baby! Bars sound like heaven itself!
These look great!
These look so delicious!!
I am definitely going to have to make these next Christmas, they definitely sound like they would be festive and yummy!
Thanks for the awesome recipe These look delicious
It looks so yummy!
These look so decadent.I won’t be waiting til Christmas for them! LOL Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe. :)
I havent heard of these holiday bars before They look delicious.
Can’t wait to make these again at Easter!
It’s that time of the year for yummy treats like this