Cranberry Bliss Bars
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A yummy knock-off of the famous Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. A beautiful and delicious holiday treat flavored with white chocolate, craisins, orange zest, and a hint of cinnamon and ginger.
Author:
Serves: 30-40
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp orange zest, freshly grated
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup dried craisins (if they are large or sticking together give them a rough chop before adding)
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips or 4 ounces of white chocolate, roughly chopped
  • FROSTING:
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp orange zest, freshly grated
  • 2 ounces of melted white chocolate
  • TOPPINGS
  • ⅓ cup craisins, roughly chopped
  • 2 ounces of melted white chocolate to drizzle on top
  • Orange zest, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Prepare 9x13 inch pan by spraying it with cooking spray, set aside.
  3. In your stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Blend until mixed well but do not overmix.
  5. Next, add flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well until combined.
  6. Stir in the craisins and white chocolate pieces.
  7. Spread batter into the prepared 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Edges should be just lightly browning. Do not over cook or bars will be dry.
  8. Wait for bars to completely cool before frosting.
  9. FROSTING DIRECTIONS:
  10. In a medium sized bowl combine the softened butter, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest and vanilla. Mix well until smooth.
  11. Add 2 ounces of melted chocolate and mix again until smooth. (If you use white chocolate chips you will need to add ½ tsp canola or vegetable oil and microwave in 15-20 second intervals stirring in between.) If you use White Chocolate Almond Bark you do not have to add oil.
  12. Spread frosting evenly over COOLED bars. Sprinkle cranberries over the frosting and then use another 2 ounces of melted white chocolate to drizzle over the top of the bars in a back and forth pattern.
  13. Let bars set up before cutting. Cut the bars into 15 or 20 squares and then cut each bar in half diagonally to make pretty triangles.
  14. I prefer to refrigerate leftover bars but it is not necessary.
  15. Enjoy!
Recipe by Real Life Dinner at https://reallifedinner.com/cranberry-bliss-bars/