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This Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe is an easy-to-make copycat of the Starbucks holiday treat! These homemade bars are loaded with dried cranberries, white chocolate, and topped with cream cheese frosting.
If you want more holiday treats, try my Frosted Sugar Cookies or Cranberry Walnut Bread next!
Why We Love This Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
- Irresistibly Delicious – This homemade version is even better than the original.
- Perfect for the Holiday Season – A great holiday treat for your Christmas cookie trays and wrapping up for gift giving.
- Cream Cheese Frosting – These bars have a 4 ingredient white chocolate cream cheese frosting.
- Make Ahead – You can bake the bars a day ahead, then frost and serve the next day.
How To Make Bliss Bars
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
- Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add in the white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and orange zest.
- Spread the batter into a prepared pan and bake.
- Let the bars cool while you make the cream cheese frosting.
- Spread the cooled bars with the frosting, then top with cranberries and drizzle with white chocolate.
- Cut into pieces and serve!
Storage
Make Ahead: Bake and fully cool bars, then cover and store in the fridge overnight. Frost them the next day.
Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing: Bake the bars and allow to fully cool. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then frost.
Expert Tips
- Light Brown Sugar Substitute – If you don’t have light brown sugar, you can use a 50/50 mix of white sugar and dark brown sugar.
- Microwaving Chocolate – When melting chocolate in the microwave, always use medium power instead of high power (which is the default on most models). Microwave for 45-second intervals on medium power, and stir in between each interval. Otherwise, the chocolate can turn grainy or end up scorching.
- Cream Cheese – Whenever making cream cheese frosting, make sure to use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese. Spreadable or light versions won’t give the proper consistency or flavor.
- Orange Zest – Grate the orange zest carefully, avoiding the bitter pith (the white part).
- Parchment Paper – Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Don’t Overbake – It’s important not to overbake the bars, or else they can get dry.
- White Chocolate Drizzle – Drizzle white chocolate in a zigzag pattern for that signature Starbucks look. You can use a spoon or fork to drizzle the chocolate or fill a piping or Ziploc bag (with the corner snipped off).
More Holiday Treats
- Spiced Gingerbread Bars
- Iced Thumbprint Grinch Cookies
- Eggnog Cookies
- Peanut Brittle
- Candy Cane Cookies
- Cranberry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Recipe
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cranberry Bliss Bars have cranberries, white chocolate, and cream cheese frosting for a homemade version of the Starbucks treat.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 52 minutes
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
Ingredients
Cranberry Bliss Bar
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar or ¾ cup white sugar & ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces white chocolate I recommend using baking chocolate instead of chocolate chips
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese make sure to use brick-style instead of spreadable
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
Topping
- 2 ounces white chocolate
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, then line with parchment paper leaving an overhang around the edges.
- In a large bowl beat together the melted butter and sugar.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- With the mixer on low speed mix in the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Mix in the orange zest, chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chop the chocolate into very small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Microwave for 45-seconds on medium power (not high power, which is default on many models), stirring between each interval until smooth.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft.
- With the mixer on low speed, beat in the melted white chocolate followed by the powdered sugar a little at a time.
- Mix in the whipping cream, 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.
- Frost the cooled bars.
Topping
- Chop the white chocolate into very small pieces, and place in a heatproof bowl. Melt in the microwave for 45-second intervals on medium heat, stirring in between each interval until smooth.
- Drizzle the top of the bars with the white chocolate, and sprinkle with dried cranberries.
- When ready to slice the bars, lift the bars and place on a cutting board. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the knife off in between each slice for clean cuts.
Notes
Make Ahead: Bake and fully cools bars, then cover. Frost them the next day.
Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Freezing: Bake the bars and allow to fully cool. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then frost.
Nutrition
Calories: 506kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 6gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 213mgPotassium: 198mgFiber: 1gSugar: 59gVitamin A: 416IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
