Description
These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful Starbucks copycat recipe featuring a buttery, brown sugar-infused base studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. Topped with a creamy orange-vanilla spiked cream cheese frosting and garnished with additional cranberries and white chocolate drizzle, these bars blend sweet, tart, and creamy flavors for a perfect holiday treat or anytime indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 ¾ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup dried cranberries (such as Craisins)
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 cups powdered sugar
For Garnish
- ½ cup dried cranberries (chopped)
- ¼ cup white chocolate chips (whole)
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips (melted)
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9” by 13” baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the salted butter and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Then add the room temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and orange extract to the mixture and mix until well combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until blended. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Fold in Cranberries and White Chocolate: Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips into the batter, evenly distributing them without deflating the mix.
- Spread Batter: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula.
- Bake the Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick; it should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter. If needed, bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, orange zest, salt, and cornstarch until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until light and creamy.
- Frost the Bars: Once the bars are completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries and whole white chocolate chips over the frosting.
- Drizzle White Chocolate: Melt the ⅓ cup white chocolate chips with ½ teaspoon vegetable oil until smooth, then drizzle over the top of the garnished bars for a finishing touch.
- Chill and Serve: Chill the bars to set the frosting and chocolate drizzle before cutting into 24 bars and serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs for better mixing and texture.
- Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Chilling after frosting helps the bars set and makes them easier to cut cleanly.
- Substitute white chocolate chips with regular chocolate chips for a different flavor profile.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Bring refrigerated bars to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.