Cranberry Bliss Bars: the copycat of the famous Starbucks treat! A delicious blondie packed with cranberries, white chocolate chips and a hint of orange.
Why This Recipe Works
It was just about a year ago when I tasted the popular Cranberry Bliss Bars at Starbucks for the first time. I immediately fell in love. Have you tried these yummy bars? If not, you need to. And you don’t have to make a trip to Starbucks to do it!
This recipe for the scrumptious Cranberry Bliss Bars is the perfect replica of the cranberry- and white-chocolate-packed blondie. I have made a handful of batches of these bars for various gatherings recently and people go nuts over these things. They are trendy for a reason!
Starbucks does not sell Cranberry Bliss Bars year-round, which is kinda torturous and what pushed me to make a copycat version. Because when we want something we can’t have, we suddenly NEED it, am I right?!
How To Make Cranberry Bliss Bars
Step 1
Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Combine wet ingredients and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until combined. Add orange zest and fold in white chocolate chips and cranberries.
Spread the batter into a greased 11×16 (or similar size) pan. You may need to grease your hands or a spatula in order to reach the edges and corners of the pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until uniformly golden in color.
Step 2
While the bars are cooling, make the dreamy frosting! Combine the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and orange juice. Beat on medium speed until smooth and free of lumps, approximately 1 minute.
Place the chopped almond bark (or white baking chocolate) in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for 1 minute. Stir and heat in 30-second intervals (stirring after each) until creamy and free of lumps.
Step 3
Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the cooled bars. Drizzle the melted almond bark (or white baking chocolate) over the top and sprinkle with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Cut into triangles and serve!
Recipe Notes
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Cut into triangles to replicate the trademark way Starbucks cuts their bars.
Brownie vs Blondie – A Comparison
Brownies and blondies are similar in texture, but blondies do not typically involve chocolate and instead are packed with brown sugar. Blondies have almost a sugar cookie flavoring but in the form of a typical brownie. In short, a blondie is a blonde form of a brownie!
Delicious Holiday Desserts
- These delicious Chewy Gingersnaps are the perfect chewy treat. Plus they are super easy to make. Flavored with molasses and spices and the finishing touch – topped with simple icing!
- These are the BEST Sugar Cookies. They are super easy to make (using only seven ingredients) and they are perfect for decorating. You will never need another sugar cookie recipe again!
- Triple Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Frosting are already a thick, perfect cookie but Nutella sets them over the edge in goodness. It’s a fun holiday flavor and they look pretty too!
- These Homemade Caramels are chewy and gooey and sooo delicious. You won’t want to eat just one! Perfect treat for holiday parties and holiday gifts!
- These Chocolate Kiss Cream Cheese Cookies are a great dessert for gatherings any time of the year. They are light, creamy and sugary, with just the perfect kiss of milk chocolate!
- Hot Cocoa Cookies are like enjoying a cup of hot chocolate, except in cookie form. Chocolate oozes from the centers of these marshmallow-topped treats.
- Oreo Balls are an easy no-bake dessert requiring only three ingredients! This easy dessert is great for the holidays or any time of year.
- These are the BEST Gingerbread Cookies you’ll find! Super easy to make and loved by everyone. Great for the holidays!
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Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
BARS
- 1 cup salted butter, softened 2 sticks
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
FROSTING AND TOPPING
- 2 pkg cream cheese 2 – 8 oz packages, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 orange juiced
- 8 oz vanilla almond bark or white baking chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips for topping
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries for topping
Instructions
MAKE THE BARS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat an 11×16 pan (or similar) with cooking spray. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until creamy and free of lumps.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. Gradually add to the butter-sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined. Stir in the orange zest. Fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
- Spread the batter even into the prepared pan. You may need to grease your fingers/spatula in order to reach the edges and corners. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until uniformly golden in color. Let cool.
MAKE THE ICING/TOPPING
- Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment n(or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and orange juice. Beat on medium speed until smooth and free of lumps, approximately 1 minute.
- Place the chopped almond bark (or baking chocolate) in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on high for 1 minute. Stir and heat in 30-second intervals (stirring after each) until creamy and free of lumps.
ASSEMBLE THE BARS
- Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the cooled bars. Drizzle the melted almond bark (or baking chocolate) over the top and sprinkle with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Cut into triangles and serve!
Notes
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Cut into triangles to replicate the trademark way Starbucks cuts their bars.
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