Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
These homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars taste better than Starbucks! Buttery blondies with cranberries, white chocolate, and cream cheese frosting. Ready in 30 minutes.
Servings: 16
Calories: 323kcal
Equipment
- 1 8x8-inch baking dish
- Parchment paper
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 small bowl
- 1 medium bowl
Ingredients
- For the Bars:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- For the Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Topping:
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, for melting and drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare pan and preheat oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides for easy removal. Set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a separate small bowl, stir together 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup melted butter, and 1 egg until well combined and smooth.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures. Add the brown sugar mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined, be careful not to overmix. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon orange zest until evenly distributed.
- Add mix-ins. Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips and ¼ cup dried cranberries until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Bake. Spread batter into prepared baking dish, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. The center should still look slightly underdone.
- Cool completely. Remove from oven and allow bars to cool completely on a wire rack, this takes at least 1 hour. Do not frost while warm.
- Make frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.
- Frost and top. Spread frosting evenly over the cooled bars using an offset spatula. Sprinkle with ¼ cup dried cranberries.
- Drizzle with white chocolate. Melt 1 cup white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe container in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Transfer to a plastic bag, snip a small corner, and drizzle over the bars in a decorative pattern.
- Set and serve. Refrigerate bars for 15-20 minutes to allow the chocolate drizzle to set. Use parchment overhang to lift bars out of pan, then cut into squares or triangles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Bars will look slightly underdone when ready, don't overbake or they'll be dry.
- Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal and clean cutting.
- Let cool completely before frosting (minimum 1 hour).
- For thinner bars, use a 9x13 pan and reduce baking time by 2-3 minutes
- Orange zest is essential for authentic Starbucks flavor, don't skip it!
Nutrition
Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
