Description
Delicious Cranberry Bliss Bars feature a moist, buttery base loaded with white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and a hint of orange zest. Topped with a creamy white chocolate cream cheese frosting and extra white chocolate drizzle with dried cranberries, these bars are perfect for holiday treats or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cranberry Bliss Bar
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar or 3/4 cup white sugar & 3/4 cup 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 chocolate (baking chocolate recommended)
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese (brick-style, not spreadable)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream
Topping
- 2 ounces white chocolate
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, then line it with parchment paper leaving an overhang around the edges for easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter and sugar until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Add Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well incorporated.
- Incorporate Flavorings: Stir in the orange zest, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries evenly into the batter.
- Bake the Bars: Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make Cream Cheese Frosting: Chop the 6 ounces of white chocolate into small pieces and melt in a heatproof bowl in the microwave at medium power for 45 seconds intervals, stirring between each until smooth. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until soft, then beat in the melted white chocolate. Gradually add powdered sugar while mixing on low speed, then mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of whipping cream as needed to reach smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Frost the Bars: Allow the bars to cool completely. Once cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the bars.
- Prepare the Topping: Chop the remaining 2 ounces of white chocolate into small pieces and melt in the microwave using 45-second intervals on medium heat, stirring in between until smooth. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the frosted bars and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries on top.
- Slice and Serve: Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice with a sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between each cut for tidy slices. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Bake and fully cool the bars, cover them, and frost the next day for best flavor and texture.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days to maintain freshness.
- Freezing: Wrap baked and cooled bars tightly and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frosting and serving.
- Use brick-style full-fat cream cheese rather than spreadable type to achieve the best frosting texture.
- Microwave melting of chocolate should be done at medium power with frequent stirring to avoid burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
