Bakery-Style Cranberry Bliss Bars

Indulge in the sweet and tangy delight of Cranberry Bliss Bars, a beloved seasonal treat that captures the essence of winter festivities in every bite. These delectable bars feature a rich, chewy blondie base infused with white chocolate and dried cranberries, crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting, a sprinkle of extra dried cranberries, and a delicate drizzle of white chocolate. This homemade Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe promises to bring the magic of your favorite coffee shop right into your kitchen, offering an irresistible balance of flavors and textures perfect for holiday gatherings or a comforting treat on any day.

Why You’ll Adore These Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars

There’s a reason why Cranberry Bliss Bars have become a holiday icon, and this exceptional copycat recipe brings all that joy and flavor directly to you, whenever the craving strikes. Preparing these treats at home offers numerous benefits beyond just replicating the taste.

• Authentic Flavor, Anytime: This recipe delivers a spot-on rendition of the famous Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. You’ll be amazed at how accurately it captures the unique blend of sweet, tart, and zesty notes, allowing you to enjoy this seasonal favorite year-round without waiting for the holidays or a trip to the coffee shop.
• Effortless Baking Experience: Despite their gourmet appearance, these bars are incredibly simple to make. The process involves baking a single pan of moist blondies and then topping them with a delightful frosting. Even beginner bakers can achieve professional-looking and tasting results with ease.
• Significant Savings: Enjoying store-bought treats frequently can quickly add up. Making Cranberry Bliss Bars at home is a much more economical option, allowing you to satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking the bank, and yielding a generous batch to share or savor.
• Perfect for Gifting and Sharing: The festive look and delicious taste of these bars make them an ideal candidate for holiday gifts, potlucks, or simply sharing with friends and family. Package them in decorative boxes or trays, and you’ll instantly spread cheer with a homemade touch.
• Unmatched Freshness and Quality: When you bake at home, you control the ingredients, ensuring the freshest and highest quality components go into your treats. This translates to superior taste and texture that mass-produced versions simply can’t match.
• Customization Potential: Have a preference for more cranberries? Love a thicker layer of frosting? Making them at home gives you the freedom to adjust ingredients to your exact liking, creating your perfect Cranberry Bliss Bar.
• The Joy of Baking: There’s an undeniable satisfaction in creating something delicious from scratch. The aroma filling your kitchen and the proud moment of presenting your homemade bars are rewards in themselves.

Essential Ingredients for Your Cranberry Bliss Bars

Crafting the perfect Cranberry Bliss Bar requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that signature flavor and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need for both the blondie base and the creamy topping.

For the Irresistible Blondie Bars:

• Unsalted Butter: The foundation of any good blondie. Using unsalted butter gives you complete control over the salt content in your baking. If you only have salted butter, remember to reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe by a quarter teaspoon per stick of butter used to maintain the perfect flavor balance.
• Dark Brown Sugar: This is key for that deep, caramelized flavor and wonderfully chewy texture that distinguishes blondies from traditional cakes. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses than light brown sugar, intensifying the flavor profile, but light brown sugar can be used as a substitute if preferred.
• Orange Extract: A secret weapon for that bright, festive, and slightly zesty note that makes these bars truly special. It provides a concentrated burst of citrus flavor. If unavailable, 1 teaspoon of freshly grated orange zest can be used for a more subtle, natural aroma.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer, vanilla extract beautifully complements both the chocolate and cranberry, adding warmth and depth to the blondie base. Always opt for pure vanilla extract for the best results.
• Eggs: Essential for structure and richness. Using large, room temperature eggs helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more consistent and tender crumb.
• All-Purpose Flour: The primary dry ingredient that provides the main structure for the blondies. Proper measurement is crucial for the ideal texture.
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent that gives the blondies a slight lift, ensuring they are tender and not too dense.
• Ground Ginger: Instead of candied ginger, ground ginger offers a subtle, warming spice that perfectly balances the sweetness and tartness, contributing to the holiday feel without an overpowering ginger bite.
• Kosher Salt: A pinch of salt is vital in any sweet recipe as it enhances all the other flavors, making them pop. It balances the sweetness of the sugar and white chocolate.
• White Chocolate Chips: These melt into pockets of creamy sweetness throughout the blondie, providing a delightful contrast to the tart cranberries. Choose a good quality white chocolate for the best flavor.
• Dried Cranberries: The star of the show! They add a vibrant ruby color and a wonderful tartness that cuts through the richness of the blondie and white chocolate, giving these bars their signature “bliss” factor.

For the Smooth & Tangy Topping:

• Cream Cheese: The heart of the iconic cream cheese frosting. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for a smooth, lump-free consistency. Its tangy notes are crucial for balancing the sweetness of the blondie.
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): Provides sweetness and gives the frosting its characteristic smooth, velvety texture. Sift it to prevent lumps.
• Salt: Just a pinch elevates the cream cheese flavor and prevents the frosting from being overly sweet.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the frosting, adding a comforting warmth.
• Orange Extract: Similar to the blondie, a touch of orange extract in the frosting brightens the flavor and ties all the elements together. Alternatively, about 2 teaspoons of fresh orange zest can be used for a brighter, more aromatic finish.
• Dried Cranberries (for Garnish): Chopped and sprinkled on top, these add another layer of texture, color, and tartness, reinforcing the cranberry theme.
• White Chocolate Chips (for Drizzle): Melted white chocolate is drizzled artistically over the finished bars, adding an elegant touch and an extra layer of sweetness and visual appeal.

Expert Tips for Crafting Perfect Cranberry Bliss Bars

Achieving bakery-quality Cranberry Bliss Bars at home is simple when you follow a few key tips. These pointers will ensure your blondies are perfectly baked, your frosting is smooth, and your finished bars are nothing short of blissful.

• Measure Flour Accurately: This is arguably the most crucial baking tip. Never scoop flour directly from the bag with your measuring cup, as this can compact it and lead to using too much. Instead, aerate your flour by fluffing it with a fork, then spoon it gently into your measuring cup until it overflows. Finally, level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife). This method ensures you use the precise amount of flour for a tender, not tough, blondie.
• Utilize Parchment Paper: Lining your baking pan with parchment paper is a game-changer. Make sure to leave an overhang on two sides to create “handles.” This simple trick makes removing the entire slab of cooled bars from the pan incredibly easy, preventing sticking and ensuring a clean lift. You can use binder clips to hold the parchment in place on the pan’s edges, but always remember to remove them before placing the pan in the oven.
• Embrace the Orange Flavor: The combination of cranberries and orange is a hallmark of these bars, lending them a distinctly festive and bright flavor. Using orange extract provides a concentrated zest, especially wonderful if fresh oranges are not in season or readily available. If you prefer, fresh orange zest (approximately 1 teaspoon for the bars and 2 teaspoons for the topping) will also impart a lovely, natural citrus aroma. Don’t skip this ingredient, as it truly elevates the bliss bar experience.
• Avoid Overbaking: Blondies are meant to be moist and chewy, not dry and crumbly. Overbaking is a common mistake that can lead to a hard texture. Keep a close eye on your oven. The bars are ready when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. They will continue to set slightly as they cool.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to frosting. Ensure your blondie base is completely cooled to room temperature before attempting to spread the cream cheese frosting. Applying frosting to a warm blondie will result in a melted, runny mess that won’t set properly.
• Cream Cheese Softening: For the smoothest cream cheese frosting, make sure your cream cheese is properly softened to room temperature. This allows it to whip up light and airy without any lumps. If it’s too cold, your frosting will be clumpy; if it’s too warm, it might be too runny.
• Optional Drizzle Alternative: While melted white chocolate chips provide the classic drizzle, you can substitute them with white chocolate almond bark or candy melts for an even easier and quicker melting process and a slightly firmer set. This is a great tip for those looking for convenience or to ensure a very clean drizzle pattern.
• Don’t Overmix the Batter: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough blondie. A few streaks of flour are acceptable, as they will disappear during baking.

How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bars: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful Cranberry Bliss Bars is a straightforward process that will fill your home with an irresistible aroma. Follow these simple steps for a truly blissful baking experience.

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pan. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Take a 9×13 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, allowing an overhang on the longer sides. This overhang will serve as convenient handles to easily lift the baked and cooled bars from the pan later. Lightly grease the exposed parts of the pan if desired, though parchment usually prevents sticking entirely.

Step 2: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and kosher salt. Ensure these dry ingredients are thoroughly combined to distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly throughout the blondies. Set this bowl aside for later use.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients for the Blondie Base. In a large mixing bowl, either by hand with a whisk or using an electric mixer, beat the melted unsalted butter with the packed dark brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This creates a rich, sweet base. Next, crack in the room temperature eggs, and add the vanilla extract and orange extract. Continue to beat the mixture until all these wet ingredients are fully incorporated and the mixture is light and fluffy.

Step 4: Incorporate Dry into Wet. Gradually add the reserved dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed or stir by hand just until the flour streaks disappear and the batter is combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough blondies. Overmixing develops gluten unnecessarily.

Step 5: Fold in Flavorful Add-ins. Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries into the blondie batter. Distribute them evenly throughout the mixture, ensuring every bite will have that delightful combination of sweet chocolate and tart fruit.

Step 6: Bake the Blondies. Carefully spread the blondie batter evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to ensure it reaches all corners. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Begin checking for doneness around the 18-minute mark. The bars are ready when the edges are lightly golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached, but no wet batter. It’s crucial not to overbake, as this will result in dry and hard bars.

Step 7: Cool Completely. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is essential before frosting to prevent the cream cheese topping from melting and running off the bars. Cooling might take 1-2 hours.

Step 8: Prepare the Cream Cheese Topping. While the blondies cool, begin making the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a pinch of kosher salt together using an electric mixer until the mixture is incredibly smooth and creamy, with no lumps. Then, beat in the vanilla extract and orange extract until fully combined and the frosting is light and fluffy.

Step 9: Frost and Garnish the Bars. Once the blondies are completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to gently lift the entire baked blondie slab out of the pan and transfer it to a cutting board or a flat surface. Spread the prepared cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the cooled blondie. Next, generously sprinkle the roughly chopped dried cranberries over the frosting for a burst of color and tartness.

Step 10: Drizzle with White Chocolate. Melt the 1/3 cup of white chocolate chips. The easiest way to do this is in a microwave-safe bowl, heating in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until the chocolate is smooth and melted. Once melted, take a fork and drizzle the white chocolate decoratively over the frosted bars. Alternatively, you can transfer the melted chocolate to a small ziplock bag, snip a tiny corner off, and pipe fine lines over the bars for a more controlled drizzle. Allow the chocolate drizzle to set before cutting.

How to Cut Cranberry Bliss Bars for a Signature Look

The distinctive triangle shape of Cranberry Bliss Bars is part of their charm. While you can certainly cut them into simple squares, recreating the classic Starbucks look is easy with these steps.

Once your Cranberry Bliss Bars are completely cooled and the white chocolate drizzle has set (this is very important for clean cuts), place the entire frosted slab on a sturdy cutting board. For the signature triangle cut:

1. First, cut the large blondie rectangle lengthwise down the middle, creating two long, equal strips.
2. Next, slice each of these long strips horizontally into four even rectangles. You will now have eight rectangular pieces.
3. Finally, take each of these eight rectangles and slice it diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. This will yield two perfect triangles from each rectangle, giving you a total of 16 signature Cranberry Bliss Bar triangles.

Alternatively, for a simpler approach, you can just cut the entire slab into 24 even squares or rectangles. Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for the neatest edges, especially when dealing with the creamy frosting.

In my opinion, this homemade Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe truly surpasses the store-bought version in terms of freshness, flavor, and sheer enjoyment. Not only is it significantly more cost-effective to prepare them at home, but you also have the freedom to indulge in as many as you like without any judgment! Treat yourself to these delightful blondies and experience homemade bliss.

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More Delicious Holiday Dessert Recipes

If you’re looking for more festive treats to bake and share, explore these other delightful holiday dessert recipes:

• Cranberry Orange Muffins
• Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars
• Peppermint Fudge
• Fig Tart

Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

A white chocolate and cranberry blondie topped with sweet cream cheese icing, dried cranberries, and a drizzle of white chocolate.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 297 kcal

Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients

For the Bars

• 2 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 cup Unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups Dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 large Eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1 tsp Orange extract
• 1 cup White chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup Dried cranberries

Topping

• 8 oz Cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups Powdered sugar
• 1 pinch Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp Orange extract
• 1/3 cup Dried cranberries, roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup White chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang handles to lift the bars out easily.
2. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the melted butter with the dark brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and orange extract and beat until well combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and blend just until combined. Stir in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
5. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges are golden. Do not overbake; they will become hard.
6. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Topping

1. In a clean bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt together until smooth and creamy. Beat in the vanilla and orange extract until fully combined.
2. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the completely cooled bars. Sprinkle with the chopped dried cranberries.
3. Melt the remaining white chocolate chips (1/3 cup) in 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the melted white chocolate with a fork over the frosted bars. Alternatively, place it in a ziplock bag, snip a small hole in one corner, and pipe over the bars. Allow the drizzle to set before cutting.

Notes

For the classic triangle shape, cut the cooled, frosted slab into two lengthwise strips. Then slice horizontally into four even rectangles from each strip (totaling eight rectangles). Finally, slice each rectangle crosswise into two triangles. Alternatively, you can simply cut the entire slab into squares.

Nutrition

Calories: 297 kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 389IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg