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These Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars are a decadent treat with a soft blondie base, cream cheese frosting, and festive toppings of cranberries, orange zest, and white chocolate chips.
Perfect for the holidays or anytime you crave a bakery-style indulgence! For more cranberry recipes, you may also check these Low-Carb Cranberry Crumb Bars, Baked Brie With Cranberries or Slice and Bake Cranberry Orange Cookies out.
Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars
These Cranberry Bars are my homemade take on the popular Starbucks treat. With tangy cranberries, creamy white chocolate, and sweet infused frosting, they capture all the holiday flavors we love about the original—but with a personal touch.
Perfect for the holidays. These bars are easy to make and even better than store-bought. The cranberry-orange-white chocolate combination is my favorite around the holidays.
While I don’t know the exact amounts of the original recipe, I’ve used my go to blondie base and the cream cheese frosting I use all the time. Both infused with orange flavor, I added tangy dry cranberries to the base, cinnamon and dry ginger.
How to make cranberry bars with cream cheese frosting
Note: This is an overview. See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Ingredients:
- Brown Sugar (packed) – light brown sugar adds chewiness to the bars
- Orange Zest – adds freshness and infuses the base ) and frosting with citrus flavor. For a more intense flavor, orange zest can be added to the frosting as well.
- Melted Butter – adds freshness and makes mixing the dough easier. Make sure the butter is slightly cool, when adding it to the mixture.
- Eggs – add structure to the dough
- Vanilla extract or paste – brings extra flavor to the dough
- All-Purpose Flour – this recipe can be made with gluten free flour as well
- Spices – ground cinnamon and ginger, both spices are optional, but add extra warmth and holiday flavor
- Dried cranberries, preferably sweetened in fruit juice. You can also chop them into smaller pieces to improve the texture.
- White chocolate chips – any type of your choice. You can also use chopped white chocolate
- Butter for the frosting – unsweetened, at room temperature
- Cream cheese – full fat at room temperature.
- Sifted powdered sugar for the frosting.
Directions:
- Prepare the Pan and Oven.
- Make the Blondie Base. Combine Wet Ingredients. Combine Dry Ingredients.
- Mix the Batter. Bake and let it cool inside the pan.
- Prepare the Frosting.
- Assemble the Bars.
- Cool then cut into triangles.
- Store in an air-tight container either at room temperature or in the fridge.
Storage:
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Tips for Success:
- Zesting Orange: Always wash the oranges well and pat dry. Washing them can help reduce the bitterness of the zest. Use a microplane zester for the best results, and avoid the bitter white pith.
- Even Baking: I prefer using a 9×9-inch pan for thicker blondie. If using a 9×13-inch pan, reduce the bake time slightly (around 25 minutes).
- Clean Cuts: Chill the bars before slicing for sharp, bakery-style edges. This is an optional step. For picture perfect bars, wipe down the knife damp cloth or paper towel after each incision. This helps prevent smudging the frosting and ensures neat, professional-looking bars.
- Substitutions: Instead if orange zest – you can use any other citrus zest like lemon or tangerine. Chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds or pecans can be added to the blondie, before baking. While this is going to completely change the recipe – milk or dark chocolate chips can be substituted for white chocolate. Flour substitutions – gluten-free flour works in this bliss bars recipe, but the blondies turn quite dense. You may want to reduce the amount with 1/4 to 1/2 cup for the whole recipe.
This recipe brings the Starbucks favorite to your holiday table, complete with all the sweet-tart magic of cranberries and orange zest. Let me know how your bliss bars turn out, if you get to try it.
Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars
Ingredients
Blondie Base:
- 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, or up to 1 1/2 cups for extra sweetness
- Zest from 1 orange
- 225 g melted butter, 2 sticks
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger, optional
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped, if preferred
Frosting:
- 8 oz 240g full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 4 tbsp 1/4 cup/56g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups 225g powdered sugar, sifted
- Orange zest, optional
Topping:
- 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- Zest of 1 orange
- Drizzle of melted white chocolate, optional
Instructions
For the Blondie Base:
- Prepare the Pan and Oven:
- Line a 9×9-inch or 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar and orange zest until aromatic. Stir in the melted butter until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, whisking to combine. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: (optional step)
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and ground ginger.
Mix the Batter:
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in two additions using a rubber spatula. Mix until just combined (avoid over mixing).
- Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
Bake:
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the blondies cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth (a spatula or mixer works).
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting is creamy and lump-free.
Assemble the Bars:
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled blondie base.
- Sprinkle the chopped cranberries, orange zest, and white chocolate chips on top. For an extra festive touch, drizzle with melted white chocolate.
- Use a sharp knife to cut into triangles or squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great timing, I was just gonna look for awesome recipe. Good day, MIRA