Every time I walk into my local Target, I pass a sign advertising Cranberry Bliss Bars sold at the Starbucks counter inside. The picture looks so good and I hear people talk about them all the time. One day I decided I needed to try one for myself and wow!! They definitely lived up to all the hype and of course I decided to figure out how to make them at home. That is how Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Knockoff) recipe was born! I knew I had to add these to my Christmas Cookie arsenal!
The base of these bars is a buttery sweet blondie, flavored with orange zest, dried cranberries and studded with white chocolate chips.
It is important to prepare the pan with parchment paper as shown above. This will make it so much easier to cut neatly. Also be sure to NOT over bake them.
Once they are completely cool frost them with the delicious cream cheese frosting flavored with a hint of orange. Sprinkle with chopped dried cranberries in preparation for the final step.
These bars are finished off with a generous amount of drizzled white chocolate. Creating the most beautiful cookie bar and yes they really do taste as good as they look!
These Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Knockoff) really are a perfect dessert to serve at your next holiday party or to bring to a Christmas cookie exchange. Unique, rich and seriously delicious!
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Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Knockoff)
Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a Starbucks Knockoff recipe and they amazing! A sweet cranberry orange blondie with white chocolate chips and topped with a dreamy cream cheese icing with white chocolate drizzle.
Ingredients
Batter
1 cup salted butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ginger
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries (craisins)
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 oz salted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp clear vanilla
1/2 tsp orange zest
1-2 TB cream or milk, if needed
Toppings
1 cup dried cranberries (craisins), chopped
1/2 cup white chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl or with a stand mixer, cream together salted butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the vanilla, and orange zest until well combined.
- Add the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, baking soda and ginger to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Mix in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
- Spread or press the thick batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Frosting
- In a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer or with a stand mixer beat together cream cheese, and butter until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing slowly until completely incorporated. Repeat this step until all of the powdered sugar has been incorporated.
- Add the clear vanilla and orange zest, mixing until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust the consistency of the frosting by adding the heavy cream or milk, a small amount at a time, until your desired consistency.
- Once the bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top.
- Sprinkle the dried chopped cranberries onto the top of the frosting.
- Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave (30 second intervals) until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a zip top bag and snip the corner. Drizzle the white chocolate on the top of the bars.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator to allow the frosting to set.
- Once chilled, cut into squares and then into triangles.
Recipe Source: slightly adapted from Cooking with Karli
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