These Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are a homemade version of the Starbucks holiday treat. With cranberries, white chocolate, and cream cheese frosting – this homemade version is even better than the original!
Add some cranberry bliss bars to your Christmas Cookie Tray alongside Eggnog Cookies and Peanut Butter Blossoms. They’re also perfect for wrapping up and giving to friends and neighbors.
Have you ever tried a Cranberry Bliss Bar from Starbucks? They start appearing in stores around Christmas and are definitely a holiday favorite. It’s a soft and chewy blondie that’s filled with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Then it’s topped with a cream cheese frosting that’s not too sweet and not too tangy, more dried cranberries, and a drizzle of white chocolate.
They’re seriously addictive, and the perfect treat while Christmas shopping.
Last year, I found out that you can actually buy a box of cranberry bliss bars to take home. But when I looked at the price – I realized I could definitely make them at home for a whole lot less. And after experimenting with the recipe, I think they’re even more delicious.
How to Make Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars
The recipe itself is very similar to making homemade cookie bars or blondies.
- First, you’ll whisk together melted butter with light brown sugar. The melted butter makes the bars chewier, and the brown sugar adds more flavor. If you don’t have light brown sugar on hand, you could use 1/2 white sugar and 1/2 dark brown sugar.
- Then you’ll whisk in 2 eggs and a little vanilla extract.
- For the dry ingredients, we’re using flour, baking powder, and a little salt – then gently stir them into the batter. Make sure to measure the flour carefully, because if you accidentally add too much the bars can get dry.
- Then in goes the white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and a little orange zest. Orange zest is really key to the perfect flavor, and really brightens up the flavor of the tart cranberries.
- You’ll spread the batter into the prepared pan, and pop it in the oven to bake for about 20-24 minutes. It’s important to not over bake the bars, or else they can get dry.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Once the bars are fully cooled, it’s time to make the topping. The topping is a simple cream cheese frosting that’s infused with white chocolate. Whenever making cream cheese frosting – make sure to use full fat, brick-style cream cheese. Spreadable or lite won’t work for the proper consistency. Frost the bars, then sprinkle a few extra dried cranberries on top and drizzle with white chocolate.
Pro Tip: When melting chocolate in the microwave, always use medium power instead of high power – which is usually the default on most models. Microwave for 45-second intervals on medium power, and stir in between each interval. Otherwise, the chocolate can turn grainy or end up burning.
Make-ahead & Freezing Tips
I typically make these bars the night before I plan to serve them, let them cool fully, then cover the pan and leave at room temperature overnight. I’ll then frost them the next day. To make the recipe from start to finish the same day, make sure the bars are completely cooled first.
Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days – but I kind of doubt they’ll last that long. If you’d like to freeze them, make the bars and cool fully, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw the bars overnight in the fridge, then frost.
More Cranberry Treats for the Holidays
- Cranberry Cake
- Cranberry Orange Scones
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cranberry Coffee Cake
- Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Equipment
- 9x13 inch pan
Ingredients
Cranberry Bliss Bar
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar or 3/4 cup white sugar & 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces white chocolate I recommend using baking chocolate instead of chocolate chips
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese make sure to use brick-style instead of spreadable
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
Topping
- 2 ounces white chocolate
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, then line with parchment paper leaving an overhang around the edges.
- In a large bowl beat together the melted butter and sugar.
- Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- With the mixer on low speed mix in the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Mix in the orange zest, chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chop the chocolate into very small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Microwave for 45-seconds on medium power (not high power, which is default on many models), stirring between each interval until smooth.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft.
- With the mixer on low speed, beat in the melted white chocolate followed by the powdered sugar a little at a time.
- Mix in the whipping cream, 1 tablespoon at a time as needed.
- Frost the cooled bars.
Topping
- Chop the white chocolate into very small pieces, and place in a heatproof bowl. Melt in the microwave for 45-second intervals on medium heat, stirring in between each interval until smooth.
- Drizzle the top of the bars with the white chocolate, and sprinkle with dried cranberries.
- When ready to slice the bars, lift the bars and place on a cutting board. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the knife off in between each slice for clean cuts.
- Store bars covered in an airtight container for
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