Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are a festive, delicious dessert that taste just like the real thing! Chewy blondies are studded with white chocolate and cranberries, then topped with cream cheese frosting & orange zest!
This Starbuck’s cranberry bliss bar recipe offers a convenient and scrumptious way to emulate this beloved café favorite, delighting friends and family with each bite. As the holiday season approaches, having a go-to dessert like these Cranberry Bliss Bars is sure to elevate any celebration!
Festive Blondies with Cream Cheese Icing and Chocolate Delight
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are always popular during the holidays and for good reason. The chewy blondie layer is studded with white chocolate and cranberries and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting flavored with a hint of orange zest. Everything gets topped with more cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle.
When comparing these bars to their Starbucks counterpart, similarities are striking. The flavor profiles closely mimic the original, with just the right balance of sweetness and tartness. Texture-wise, both versions feature the chewy blondie base and creamy frosting. While the visual appeal may vary slightly, the essence of the festive treat remains intact.
I am so glad I can make these at home because they are amazing!
Serving suggestions for these Cranberry Bliss Bars
These Cranberry Bliss Bars can be enjoyed in various ways. Here are some suggestions to enhance their appeal:
- Coffee Pairing: Serve alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea. The flavors complement each other well.
- Festive Platter: Arrange bars on a festive platter with seasonal decorations. This adds a visual appeal for gatherings.
- Individual Wrapping: Wrap each bar in clear cellophane tied with a ribbon. This makes for a lovely party favor or gift.
- Ice Cream Side: Pair with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The combination of warm and cold is delightful.
- Nut Inspiration: Incorporate chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for added texture. This variation can enhance the flavor profile.
Ingredients for Cranberry Bliss Bars
Butter: Use ¾ cup of unsalted butter, melted.
Brown sugar: You will need 2 cups of brown sugar for a wonderful depth of flavor.
Eggs: Help bind the ingredients together by adding 2 eggs.
Vanilla extract: Enhance the flavors by using 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
Flour: Add 2 cups of flour for the structural base of these bliss bars.
Baking powder: Use ½ tsp of baking powder in the dough.
Ginger: Add a spiced flavor with ¼ tsp of ground ginger.
Salt: Balance the sweetness of these bars with ½ tsp of salt.
Cranberries: You need ½ cup of dried cranberries for the delightful chewy bits in every bite.
Baking chocolate: Add 4-ounces of chopped white baking chocolate for an amazing decadent taste.
Cream Cheese Orange Icing
Cream cheese: You will need one 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened.
Butter: Add in ¼ cup of butter, softened.
Milk: Thin out the frosting by adding 2 TBSP of milk.
Powder sugar: You need 5 cups of powdered sugar for a perfectly sweet frosting.
Orange zest: Use the zest of ½ an orange to flavor this frosting nicely.
Cranberries: Add ½ cup of dried cranberries to the top of the bars for more festive color and taste too.
Baking chocolate: Drizzle the bars with 4-ounces of melted white baking chocolate. You can use white chocolate chips instead of the baking chocolate if you prefer.
How to make Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbuck’s
Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and then set it aside.
Batter
In a mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mix until smooth. After that mix in the flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt.
Stir in the ½ cup dried cranberries and 4-oz chopped white chocolate. Proceed to transfer the batter to the prepared pan and use a rubber scraper to smooth the top out evenly.
Bake
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Then set it aside to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese, butter, milk, powdered sugar, and orange zest. Then spread the icing over the top of the cooled bars. Sprinkle the frosting with the remaining ½ cup of dried cranberries.
Chocolate drizzle
In a microwave safe bowl, in 30 second intervals, melt the white chocolate bark in a glass or ceramic bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then stir gently. If needed, add time in 15 second increments, letting the chocolate sit before stirring gently again. Once melted, transfer the chocolate to a small baggie, snip off a small corner, and drizzle chocolate all over the top of the bars. Let them sit to cool and harden.
Grip the parchment and remove the bars from the pan. Then cut them into 3 long rows, then 5 cuts to cut the bars into squares. Cut each square diagonally to make triangles. Serve & enjoy!
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 4 ounces white baking chocolate chopped
Cream Cheese Icing
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 2 TBSP milk
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 TBSP orange zest
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 4 ounces white baking chocolate
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Batter: In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mix until smooth.
- Mix in the flour, baking powder, ginger and salt.
- Stir in the ½ cup dried cranberries and 4-oz chopped white chocolate. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and use a rubber scraper to smooth it out evenly.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large bowl use an electric mixer to whip together the cream cheese, butter, milk, powdered sugar and orange zest. Spread the icing over the top of the cooled bars.
- Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup dried cranberries.
- White Chocolate drizzle: In a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals Melt the white chocolate in a glass or ceramic bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. Let sit 2 minutes, then stir gently. If needed, add time in 15 second increments, letting the chocolate sit before stirring gently again. Once melted, transfer chocolate to a small baggie. Snip the corner and drizzle chocolate all over the top of the bars. Let sit to cool and harden.
- Grip the parchment and remove the bars from the pan. Then cut them into 3 long rows, then 5 cuts to cut the bars into squares. Cut each square diagonally to make triangles. Serve & enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How can I store Cranberry Bliss Bars to maintain freshness?
Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars should be stored in an airtight container to retain moisture. They can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freezing is an option; they can be wrapped in plastic and stored in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
How do you Soften Cream cheese?
Here in the US, cream cheese comes in an 8-oz brick wrapped in foil packaging. Most recipes call for softened cream cheese, which can be done in a few different ways:
- Microwave it! Just 20 seconds or so in the microwave will sufficiently soften cream cheese. Be sure to remove the foil packaging first and to place the cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl.
- Hot towel wrap! This is what I tend to do most often. All you do is get a clean kitchen rag, get it soaking wet with hot water, then ring it out quickly and wrap the hot towel around the foil package of cream cheese. It takes just a few minutes and it’s softened!
- Let it sit out! If you can plan ahead, the absolute easiest way to soften cream cheese is just to let it sit on the counter for an hour or two. Easy!
When are Cranberry Bliss Bars typically available at Starbucks?
Starbucks usually offers Cranberry Bliss Bars seasonally, appearing around late fall to early winter. They are commonly available from November until after the Christmas season, aligning with festive offerings. Timing may vary by location, so checking with a local store can provide specific availability.
But now you don’t have to wait, enjoy these bliss bars at home with our homemade recipe!
Can Cranberry Bliss Bars be made gluten-free?
Yes, Cranberry Bliss Bars can be adapted to be gluten-free. Substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend will work effectively. It is essential to ensure that all additional ingredients, including baking powder and chocolate, are certified gluten-free for a safe and tasty dessert.
Try more of our favorite holiday dessert recipes here:
- ANDES MINT COOKIES
- GREEN MINT CHOCOLATE COOKIES
- EASY PUMPKIN FUDGE
- HOT CHOCOLATE SNACK MIX
- MINI PECAN PIES
- CHRISTMAS CANDY PUFFCORN
- PEPPERMINT ICE CREAM CAKE ROLL
- FESTIVE VEGETABLE TRAY
- CHRISTMAS BARK
- CHRISTMAS CAKE BATTER FUDGE
- CHRISTMAS CREAM SODAS
- GOOEY HOLIDAY CHEX MIX
- CHRISTMAS SPRINKLE SUGAR COOKIES
- CHOCOLATE CARMEL BARS
- HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIE CUPS
- EASY CRACKER TOFFEE
- TIGER BUTTER FUDGE
- SOFT PUMPKIN GINGERSNAP COOKIES
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars made easily from the comfort of your own home, enjoy this cafe favorite any time of year thanks to our homemade recipe! These cranberry bliss bars are a flavorful dessert that tastes just like the original.
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