Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
These Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful treat combining a buttery blondie base with dried cranberries, white chocolate chunks, and a creamy orange-vanilla cream cheese frosting. Finished with a drizzle of white chocolate and more cranberries, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and rich flavors, ideal for holidays or anytime a festive dessert is needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Blondie Base
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7.5 oz)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter (6 oz)
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10.5 oz)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries (3.5 oz, loosely packed)
- 1 1/3 cups white chocolate, chopped or chips (8 oz)
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (6 oz)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated
Toppings
- 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the rack in the middle. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray, then line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Spray the parchment paper again to prevent sticking.
- Brown the Butter: In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir frequently as the butter foams and the milk solids turn golden brown. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a bowl, scraping all browned bits. Allow to cool completely.
- Mix the Dry and Wet Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, combine the cooled browned butter and light brown sugar, whisking well. Add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest, mixing until smooth.
- Combine Batter and Bake: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the chopped white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until edges are golden and the top is set. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Prepare and Spread the Frosting: Beat together the softened cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and finely grated orange zest in a medium bowl until fluffy and smooth. When bars are cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Chill for 10 minutes to firm up the frosting before decorating.
- Add Toppings and Finish: Evenly sprinkle the roughly chopped dried cranberries over the frosted bars. Drizzle the melted white chocolate decoratively over the top, using a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Refrigerate until the frosting and drizzle are set.
- Slice and Serve: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Slice into squares and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Browning the butter deepens the flavor and adds richness to the blondie base.
- Make sure the browned butter is completely cooled to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely in the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter to maintain a tender crumb.
- Chilling the bars after frosting makes the chocolate drizzle application easier and results in cleaner slices.
- Store bars refrigerated and consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness.
Keywords: cranberry bliss bars, Starbucks copycat, cranberry dessert bars, white chocolate bars, holiday desserts
