Reposting this recipe because they were a huge success last year. Let me know if you make any!
I don’t really need an excuse to go to Starbucks, but I always find myself there more during the holiday season. A small part of me always gets excited when I see they have their cranberry bliss bars out. What I hate more than anything though, is when I take a bite and it’s stale or worse, I go there because I want one of these amazing treats and they are sold out. But now, that’s not a problem anymore because with this simple recipe, you can make your very own cranberry bliss bars anytime you feel like it.
With all the kits and stores that sell these, you might think why bother making them from scratch. Well, for me there’s something about watching what you mix turn into a replica of what you would buy from the store. I plan on bringing desserts to all our family gatherings after the success of my Milky Way Cupcakes at Thanksgiving. You don’t have to be an expert baker to make these, but the end result definitely will make people think you are.
The bar itself is soft, yet firm blondie-like sweet base with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries mixed into. Topping the bar is a white-chocolate cream cheese frosting. Dried cranberries are sprinkled across and then melted white chocolate is drizzled all over. In researching how Starbucks makes this, I found out they add orange zest to the icing. I’m fresh out of oranges so I left it out and quite honestly, I like my version better.
Of course, to make them look like the dessert sold at Starbucks, I cut them into triangles. If your icing doesn’t reach the edge of your cake, just use a knife to trim the edges adding to the perfection that is this treat.
A white chocolate cranberry blondies recipe that copycats the delicious Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss Bars.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cubed
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
- 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare the bar: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; set aside. In another large bowl, melt butter for one minute in the microwave then stir in brown sugar. Using mixer beat in the eggs and vanilla. Take the dry ingredients and gradually add them to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate (the batter will be thick).
- Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (be sure NOT to overbake). Allow to cool.
- While the bar is cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well mixed. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate and continue to mix.
- Frost brownies. Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut into triangles. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
