Cranberry Bliss Bars

This is a Starbucks copycat recipe so you can enjoy the bars any time of the year.

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Starbucks copycat recipe
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: festive, holiday
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 221kcal
Author: Cindy Franco Sawyer

INGREDIENTS

Bars:

  • 1 cup butter (melted)
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp orange extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup Craisins

Frosting and Topping:

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp orange extract
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • cup Craisins (roughly chopped)
  • 2 squares baking chocolate or almond bark (melted)

INSTRUCTIONS

Bars:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 15×10 or 13×9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • Beat together melted butter and brown sugar over medium speed with an electric mixer.
  • Add in eggs, 1 tsp orange extract, and 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat until mixed well.
  • Add in ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and flour, beating until just blended. Don't overmix.
  • Stir in white chocolate chips and Craisins by hand.
  • Spread evenly into the bottom of prepared pan.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges. Don't overbake or bars will be hard.
  • Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool. Allow bars to cool completely before topping with icing.

Frosting and Topping:

  • Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
  • Add 1/2 tsp orange extract and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and mix well.
  • Top cooled bars with frosting.
  • Sprinkle with chopped Craisins.
  • Drizzle white chocolate over the top with a fork.
  • You can either slice right away and enjoy, or place the bars in the refrigerator for about an hour (what I like to do) to help them set up before cutting. Cut into triangles and enjoy!

NOTES

  • When working with the melted white chocolate: Dip fork into the chocolate then shake it gently over the top of the bars to create little streaks.
  • Which pan to use: I started working with a little larger pan, but moved to a the 9×13 (quarter sheet?) jelly roll pan from a restaurant supply store. It is the perfect size, but I found that I have to bake the bars a little longer, about 22 minutes.
  • Line your baking pan: DO. THIS. I go through a LOT of parchment paper, but it makes clean up and working with pastries so much easier.
  • How to store: Keep the bars in the refrigerator, not on your counter. They can be frozen for up to three months.
  • Chopping Craisins: I like to chop the craisins before putting them in the bars, but will skip that part if I’m in a rush. I always chop them for the topping.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Serving Size
 
1 bar
Amount per Serving
Calories
221
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
7
g
11
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
27
mg
9
%
Sodium
 
123
mg
5
%
Potassium
 
84
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
 
39
g
13
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
30
g
33
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
165
IU
3
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
61
mg
6
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.