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White Chocolate Cranberry Bliss Bars
How to make cranberry bliss bars
This copycat Starbucks recipe is one of my all-time faves. These white chocolate cranberry bliss bars have a chewy, shortbread-like base and are topped with the most incredible cream cheese frosting. The dried cranberries contrast beautifully with the orange zest, making these bars taste just like the holidays!
Okay, so the basic steps for these bars are:
Make the cookie base — Melt the butter in the microwave, then stir in the sugar and vanilla. Mix all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl slowly incorporate them into the butter mixture. Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips, and then pour the batter into a prepared 9-by-13-inch pan.
Bake the bliss bars — These bars will need about 20 minutes in the oven. To tell when these bars are finished baking, stick a knife into the very center and see if it comes out clean.
Let the bars cool — You need to let the bars cool completely before topping them with frosting. If you don’t, the frosting will run everywhere and make a huge mess.
Top with frosting — Once cooled, spread the thick cream cheese frosting on top of these cranberry bliss bars. I then sprinkled them with dried cranberries, orange zest, and then drizzled on some melted white chocolate.
How to store cranberry bliss bars
These cranberry bliss bars are best stored in the fridge and eaten cool. They should keep well in an airtight container for about a week. If they go slightly stale, dunk them in a glass of milk! And if possible, store these in a single layer so you don’t mess up the cream cheese frosting on top.
Print- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars
White Chocolate Cranberry Bliss Bars
These white chocolate cranberry bliss bars taste even better than the ones you get at Starbucks! These are the perfect combo of sweet and tart.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest*
- 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or 4 ounces white bakers chocolate, coarsely chopped
For the frosting bit:
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips or 4 ounces white bakers chocolate
- 8 ounces full fat or reduced fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons orange zest, divided
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9”x13” baking pan.
- In a large bowl melt butter in microwave. Stir in brown sugar until fully dissolved. Set aside to slightly cool. Once cooled, whisk in eggs, one at a time. Then whisk in the vanilla and orange zest.
- In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Gradually add flour mixture to butter-sugar-egg mixture until combined. Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
- Spread batter evenly in the prepared baking pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let bars cool completely in pan before proceeding.
- Once bars are cooled melt white chocolate in microwave on 50% power stirring every 30 seconds. Using an electric mixer beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla, 1 teaspoon of orange zest and half of the melted white chocolate. Spread the frosting evenly over the bars.
- Sprinkle bars with cranberries and remaining orange zest. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cover and refrigerate until chocolate is set, at least 30 minutes. Cut bars to serve.
Notes
These bars are best served cool and should be stored in the refrigerator.
Recipe from 2 Teaspoons
More dessert bars from Broma Bakery:
Cranberry Walnut Cheesecake Bars
i don’t usually comment on blog posts but god i love your blog. best baking blog i’ve ran into in a while, thank you !
you need not say any more words: i ADORE cranberry bliss bars. I head right towards them if i see them at Starbucks. like, make a beeline.
I will make these. when i’m safely done with dieting and can eat roughly a whole pan.
These bars definitely DO look incredible!! Awesome recipe!