Cranberry Bliss Bars
Updated
Updated
With this simple and easy Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe, I can enjoy this Starbucks holiday favorite all year round. Each bite is loaded with dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and an orange-scented cream cheese frosting.
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5 STAR REVIEW
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a Starbucks holiday staple, and now with this simple and easy Starbucks copycat recipe, I can enjoy them at home any time the mood hits. I’ve taken a simple blondie and baked it with tart, dried cranberries and smooth white chocolate chips, and then topped it with a sweet, orange-scented cream cheese frosting and then drizzled it with white chocolate. Divine!
I love to make these cookie bars during the holiday season—they’re perfectly sweet and look beautiful on a cookie platter. This recipe makes 24 small triangle bars, just enough to satisfy the craving and leave plenty for sharing!
Enjoy one of these cookie bars with another Starbucks copycat. Our homemade mocha frappuccino!
Helpful Tips and Variations
- Don’t skip the orange zest. The orange zest really makes the flavor in these bars. Cranberry orange is such a great combination (psst, I see you cranberry-orange muffins and pound cake) and the citrus brightens up the flavor profile.
- Be sure to line the pan. I recommend parchment paper with some hanging over the edges and using non-stick spray as well, to make these cranberry bars easy to remove from the pan.
- To make drizzling the white chocolate easier, place the melted chocolate in a sturdy disposable zip-top bag (such as a freezer bag, as thin sandwich bags may rupture). Use scissors to cut one corner off, and squeeze gently to create an even flow of white chocolate.
- Make them gluten-free. Swap out the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour substitute. Make sure it’s a 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Try a different flavor. While dried cranberries are a main ingredient, you can substitute dried blueberries and lemon zest to make a blueberry lemon version.
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
FOR THE COOKIE BAR
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cups regular salted butter, softened
- 1½ cups brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup dried cranberries, (craisins), avoid fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, use good quality for the best results, Ghirardelli, Lindt, Callebaut or Guittard are all high quality brands.
FOR THE FROSTING & TOPPING
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 tbsp grated orange zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
For the Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper, creating an overhang on each side for “handles” for easier removal after baking. Spray with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until combined (mixture will be thick.) Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Spread batter into the lined pan, using your fingers or a greased spatula pressing into the corners and edges to create an even layer.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until very lightly browned and a toothpick into the center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1-2 hours.
For the Topping
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, orange zest, vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually beat in half of the melted white chocolate (½ cup) until well blended and smooth.
- Frost the bars and drizzle with the remaining melted white chocolate and top with the chopped cranberries.Remove bars from the pan using the handles to help get them out, cut into 12 squares, then cut each square in half to form 24 triangles.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bars Step by Step
Preheat the oven and prep a pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper, creating an overhang on each side for “handles” for easier removal after baking. Spray with nonstick spray.
Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until combined (mixture will be thick). Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
Spread batter: Spread batter into the lined pan, using your fingers or a greased spatula pressing into the corners and edges to create an even layer.
Bake for 18-22 minutes or until very lightly browned and a toothpick into the center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1-2 hours.
Beat topping ingredients: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, orange zest, vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually beat in half of the melted white chocolate (1/2 cup) until well blended and smooth.
Frost and cut: Frost the bars and drizzle with the remaining melted white chocolate and top with the chopped cranberries .Remove bars from the pan using the handles to help get them out, cut into 12 squares, then cut each square in half to form 24 triangles.
Serve: Serve and enjoy.
How to Store
You can serve these Starbucks cranberry bliss bars at room temperature or chilled. Since they are a very rich treat, cutting them into 24 triangles is recommended. Less is more with a treat this decadent.
These cranberry bliss bars must be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container and will keep for up to 5 days.
Cranberry bliss bars can also be frozen. Tightly wrap them in two layers, separated by wax paper or parchment paper, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge before serving.
What to Serve With Cranberry Bliss Bars
If you are looking for holiday treats for your dessert buffet to serve alongside these bars, this peppermint Oreo bark is a good option, as are eggnog rum balls. This reindeer chow also makes for a fun and tasty treat.
Made these for our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. I also shared with my neighbor. Everyone loved them and my neighbor asked for the recipe. Very easy to make. I’ll probably back down on the amount of powdered sugar next time.
This recipe is amazing! Better than Starbucks by far and you are right the orange zest makes it. Thank you for sharing!!!
Oh my gosh, these are phenomenal! I dislike white chocolate candy and not a Starbucks fan but something about his recipe made me want to give them a try. Soooo good – definitely adding to my future Christmas cookie trays. And can’t wait to try the blueberry/lemon combo this spring.
This recipe is even better than Starbucks!
It’s very sweet but so delicious
This is a DELICIOUS dessert! Easy to make and packed with flavor. I gifted these in pretty containers, and my friends made me promise to make them again next Christmas! Thanks so much!
When I have my fist Starbucks Bliss Bar, the holiday season officially begins. Needless to say, I’m an expert on those things! So, I’m here to say these are so fantastic. Amazing and an exact match. I made mine bite-sized for Thanksgiving to last longer. The holidays can officially start a LOT earlier with this incredible recipe on hand. Delicious!!!