Description
These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful Starbucks copycat treat featuring a buttery spiced base studded with white chocolate chips and Craisins, topped with a creamy orange-vanilla cream cheese frosting, more chopped Craisins, and a drizzle of white chocolate. Perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you crave a sweet, tangy, and rich dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
Bar Base
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup Craisins
Frosting and Topping
- 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup Craisins (roughly chopped)
- 2 squares white baking chocolate or almond bark (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 15×10 or 13×9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter and brown sugar on medium speed using an electric mixer. Add the eggs, 1 teaspoon orange extract, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Continue beating until the mixture is well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: To the wet mixture, add ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and all-purpose flour. Beat on low speed just until blended—be careful not to overmix to ensure tender bars.
- Fold in Add-ins: Stir in the white chocolate chips and 3/4 cup Craisins by hand using a spatula or spoon, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Bake the Bars: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until the bars are set and golden brown around the edges. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add 1/2 teaspoon orange extract and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing well to combine.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bars. Sprinkle the top evenly with the chopped 1/3 cup Craisins.
- Drizzle White Chocolate: Drizzle the melted white baking chocolate or almond bark over the frosted bars by dipping a fork into the chocolate and shaking it gently over the top to create thin streaks.
- Set and Serve: For best results, refrigerate the bars for about an hour to allow the frosting to set before cutting. Slice into triangles and enjoy your Cranberry Bliss Bars!
Notes
- Line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner edges.
- Do not overbake the bars to maintain a soft and chewy texture.
- Refrigeration helps the frosting set and makes slicing cleaner.
- Triangles are the traditional shape to serve these bars, but feel free to cut into squares if preferred.
- Orange and vanilla extracts enhance the flavor complexity—do not omit.
