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Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 93 reviews

These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delicious Starbucks copycat recipe featuring buttery blondie bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with a creamy orange-vanilla cream cheese frosting, dried cranberries, and drizzled with melted white chocolate. Perfectly balanced in sweetness and texture, these bars make a delightful treat for holidays and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Blondie Base

  • 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7.5oz, 213g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder (3g)
  • ½ teaspoon table salt (3g)
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (6oz, 170g)
  • 1½ cups packed light brown sugar (10.5oz, 298g)
  • 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest (3g)
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries (loosely packed, 3.5oz, 100g)
  • 1⅓ cups white chocolate (chopped or white chocolate chips, 8oz, 227g)

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened, 227g)
  • 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar (sifted, 6oz, 170g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest (3g)

Topping

  • ½ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (loosely packed, 2.3oz, 65g)
  • ⅔ cup white chocolate (melted, 4oz, 113g)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick baking spray, then line with parchment paper trimmed to fit the pan with an overhang on the sides for easy lifting. Spray the parchment again.
  2. Brown the Butter: In a light-colored saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir continuously as it bubbles and foams, pushing the foam aside to observe the milk solids. When the solids turn a golden brown color, remove the pan from heat and immediately transfer the browned butter to a bowl to cool.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another medium bowl, blend the cooled browned butter (with solids) and brown sugar until fully combined. Add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest and mix well.
  5. Mix Batter: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined—avoid overmixing. Fold in the chopped white chocolate and dried cranberries. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top evenly.
  6. Bake Blondie: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the top is set. Avoid overbaking to keep moistness. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Prepare Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and orange zest. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk until the frosting is smooth, well combined, and fluffy.
  8. Frost Bars: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled blondie bars.
  9. Add Topping: Sprinkle the roughly chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosting. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the bars and cranberries to decorate.
  10. Chill: Refrigerate the frosted bars until the frosting is firm to ensure neat slicing.
  11. Slice and Store: Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the bars out of the pan and cut them into triangles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • When browning butter, use a light-colored pan to easily monitor color changes and avoid burning.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the blondies tender and moist.
  • Use parchment paper with an overhang to easily lift the entire blondie slab out for cutting.
  • Cooling the blondies before frosting is important to prevent melting the frosting.
  • If white chocolate chips are unavailable, finely chopped white chocolate bars are a good substitute.
  • The bars are best stored refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting.
  • Allow the frosting to fully firm in the fridge before slicing for clean cuts.

Keywords: Cranberry Bliss Bars, Starbucks copycat, blondies, white chocolate, cream cheese frosting, cranberry bars, holiday dessert

Find it online: https://miarosetti.com/cranberry-bliss-bars-starbucks-copycat-recipe-recipe/