Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful treat featuring a buttery blondie base studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and drizzled with melted white chocolate and cranberries. Perfect for holiday celebrations or anytime you crave a sweet and tangy dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Bliss Bar
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces white baking chocolate
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, brick-style
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
Topping
- 2 ounces white chocolate
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter and light brown sugar until combined. Mix in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and stir until smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Then fold in the orange zest, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries.
- Bake the Bars: Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: Chop the white baking chocolate into small pieces and melt in a heatproof bowl in the microwave at medium power in 45-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft, then slowly beat in the melted white chocolate followed by the powdered sugar, adding it a little at a time. Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of whipping cream to achieve a spreadable consistency.
- Frost the Bars: Once the bars are fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
- Prepare the Topping: Chop the remaining white chocolate and melt it in the microwave at medium power in 45-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the frosted bars and sprinkle with dried cranberries.
- Slice and Serve: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan onto a cutting board. Slice into 16 bars using a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for neat slices.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Bake and allow the bars to fully cool. Cover and frost them the next day for best flavor.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Freezing: After baking and cooling, wrap bars tightly and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before frosting.
- Use brick-style full-fat cream cheese for best texture in frosting.
- Microwave chocolate at medium power to prevent burning and achieve a smooth melt.
- Wiping the knife between slices helps maintain clean, attractive bar edges.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
