Copy Cat Cranberry Bliss Bars

The holidays call for many things, including tasty treats! Among Christmas cookies, pies, and candies, these copy cat Cranberry Bliss Bar’s are one of my top favorites this time of year. A couple years back I bought my first Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar and with my natural sweet tooth, fell in love! They are perfect with a warm holiday drink or a perfect dessert after a Christmas party. Recently I bought my first one of the season from Starbucks and wondered if it was possible to make them at home. After a few attempts, I got it down and may I just say they are just as good if not more delicious than the Starbucks ones. Hope you enjoy!

Total Time: 35 minutes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cool Time: 20 minutes

Yields 24 bars

Ingredients for bars:

1 cup of melted butter

1 3/4 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 cups flour

1 cup of white chocolate chips

1 cup dried cranberries

1 teaspoon orange extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for icing:

1/2 of cream cheese softened

1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of orange extract

1/2 a cup of chopped dried cranberries

2 squares of baking white chocolate

Baking instructions:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Find a 13×9 pan and line with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together melted butter and brown sugar. Add in eggs, 1 teaspoon of orange extract, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Once mixed well, add in the ginger, flour, salt, and baking powder. Let sit for a moment.

Step 3: Stir in your dried cranberries and white chocolate chips by hand. Bring over to your pan and spread evenly. Tap pan a few times on hard surface and bake in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are just starting to become golden brown. Allow bars to cool, I recommend an 1-3 hours on a cooling rack.

Step 4: Now that your bars are cooled it is time to make frosting. Mix together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add in your vanilla and orange extract. Drizzle icing across bars. Feel free to do any fun lines you wish, I use a fork and knife. Sprinkle the chopped cranberries and white chocolate chips on top. I recommend refrigerating for 2 hours before cutting up and serving. Have fun making them into shapes!

I hope you all enjoyed this copy cat recipe. It is one of my favorites this time of year and perfect for all occasions!

Xoxo

Christian Mulkey