I don’t know when Starbucks released the Cranberry Bliss Bars, but I do know that after having my first one in college, I was hooked and needed to find out how to make them myself. When I got home, I scoured the internet for a recipe, and made them later that week. Since then, I’ve made them many-a-time with awesome results. The batch that I made yesterday was gifted to Tommy’s cousins, and they were basically gone before they hit the table. They are that good!
Cranberry Bliss Bars are basically a blondie with dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks, topped with white chocolate cream cheese frosting. If you’re not drooling, you may need to have your taste buds examined. 😉
Cranberry Bliss Bars
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 6 ounces white chocolate chips
Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 6 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, melt butter for one minute in the microwave; stir in brown sugar. Let cool to room temperature. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate.
Spread the blondie batter into a lightly greased 13×8 pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
To Prepare the frosting use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well-blended. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate. Frost brownies, sprinkle with cranberries and drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut into triangle-shaped bars. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
I’m sure Santa would love to find these tonight, instead of plain old chocolate chip! 😉
Have a great Saturday and Christmas Eve!
What kind of cookies did you leave out for Santa as a kid?
These cranberry bliss bars look so good! Definitely going to try making these at some point 🙂
They are reallly good. I've already gotten requests to make them again!
If I were Santa, I would take those hands-down over any other cookie lol. Have a great Christmas!
Same here! Merry Christmas! 🙂