Preppy Kitchen Recipes Desserts Brownies & Bars Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Name: Cranberry Bliss Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups all-purpose flour ((300g)); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon ground ginger; 1½ cups light brown sugar ((330g)); ¾ cup unsalted butter (melted (170g)); 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1 tablespoon orange zest ((1 orange)); 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 cup white chocolate chips ((180g)); ¾ cup dried cranberries ((120g)); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened (113g)); 1 cup powdered sugar ((120g)); 1 cup white chocolate chips (melted and divided (180g)); ½ cup dried cranberries (chopped (80g))

By John Kanell Published Dec 13, 2023
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My homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars are perfect for celebrating the holiday season. Get ready to treat your tastebuds to a festive delight with these Christmas-inspired bar cookies. You can whip up these treats with a few easy steps so you can spread holiday joy!

A plate with a slice of cranberry bliss bar with a coffee and platter with more bars in the background.

Sinking your teeth into a moist, ginger- and orange-flavored blondie studded with white chocolate chips, vibrant orange zest, and sweet-tart cranberries, and covered with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Each bar is then topped with dried cranberries and orange zest for an extra flourish and finished with a delightful white chocolate drizzle. In other words, there’s a good reason “bliss” is in the name!

Not only are these copycat Starbucks cranberry bliss bars a delight for the senses, but they’re also incredibly practical for the festive season. One batch yields 24 decadent bars, making them an ideal choice for holiday cookie exchanges, Christmas cookie platters, or simply as a special treat for your family and friends. For more holiday dessert recipes, try my Gingerbread Cupcakes Recipe, Pistachio Cake Recipe, and Pudding Cookies Recipe!

What You Need To Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make cranberry bliss bars.

Baking powder — not to be confused with baking soda, this raising agent is what helps the blondie base puff up to perfection.

Ground ginger — for rich seasonal warmth. In a pinch, you can use approximately 3x as much freshly grated ginger instead.

Light brown sugar — for light caramel flavors and a deliciously chewy texture in the blondie base. You can use dark brown sugar if you prefer a more pronounced molasses flavor. Light or dark muscovado sugar is also a fine substitute.

Eggs — make sure they’re at room temperature for easier mixing.

Orange zest — for a touch of brightness to play off the sweet, spicy flavors. While I prefer the fresh flavor of zest, you can get a relatively close approximation by swapping in about ¼ teaspoon of orange extract.

Vanilla extract — for aromatic warmth. Feel free to substitute an equal amount of vanilla paste instead.

White chocolate chips — if possible, reach for real white chocolate, not “white baking chips.” The telltale difference can be found on the ingredients list; real white chocolate should have cocoa butter as one of the first ingredients.

Dried cranberries — use sweetened or at least 50% less sweet dried cranberries here. Unsweetened will be very tart and bitter.

Cream cheese — make sure you opt for full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture. Allow it to soften fully to room temperature so you get the silkiest consistency for your frosting.

Powdered sugar — also aptly known as “icing sugar” or “confectioners’ sugar,” this sweetener is what gives the cream cheese frosting a deliciously smooth and fluffy (rather than gritty) consistency. If you’re fresh out, you can make your own homemade powdered sugar by blitzing white sugar and cornstarch in a food processor.

How To Make Cranberry Bliss Bars

Set of two photos showing dry ingredients whisked together and then melted butter beat together with sugar.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Fully line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper (including the sides). In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ginger.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, melted butter, room-temperature eggs, orange zest, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy, about 1 minute.

Set of two photos showing dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients and white chocolate chips and dried cranberries folded into the batter.

3. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture just until combined.

4. Stir in the white chocolate and cranberries.

Set of two photos showing batter spread into a lined baking dish and frosting mixed in a bowl.

5. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely in the pan.

6. In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. Reserve ¼ cup of the melted white chocolate and beat the rest into the cream cheese mixture until combined.

Set of two photos showing frosting spread over the uncut bars and then dried cranberries added and more frosting drizzled on top.

7. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled blondie.

8. Sprinkle with cranberries and drizzle with the reserved white chocolate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 to 20 minutes to set the topping. Slice the bars into triangles to serve. If desired, garnish with fresh orange zest.

Overhead view of cranberry bliss bars on a parchment paper over a marble counter.

Pro Tips For Making This Recipe

Easily cut triangles using a little geometry! To get 24 of these cranberry bliss bars, cut the slab into thirds lengthwise so you have 3 long strips. Then cut each strip in half crosswise, and cut each half again (effectively cutting it into fourths) to make 12 squares. Cut each square in half diagonally so you get 2 triangles.
Drizzle like a pro. Use a piping bag or a ziptop bag with the corner snipped for easy drizzling of the melted chocolate.
Cool it off. Setting the baking pan atop a wire rack will help the bars cool faster. Rather than trapping the heat against the countertop, you’ll get increased airflow underneath the pan without sacrificing the structural integrity of the bar cookies.
Don’t waste the orange. After zesting the orange, put the rest of the fruit to work. The juice is delicious in homemade cranberry sauce, and the spent rind makes for a lovely simmer pot with a few sprigs of rosemary and a couple of whole cloves.

A platter with multiple pieces of cranberry bliss bars. A stack of plates in the background along with orange wedges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do they need to be refrigerated?

To maintain their freshness beyond a day, it’s best to refrigerate due to the cream cheese frosting. Store them in an airtight container to keep the bars from drying out for up to 1 week. For optimal taste and texture, consider allowing them to reach room temperature for a short while before you enjoy them.

Can they be frozen?

Absolutely! You can freeze them for as long as six weeks, which is excellent news for when you’re craving Starbuck’s cranberry bliss bars but don’t have time to bake them! Ensure they’re securely wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or placed in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw them in the refrigerator for several hours or leave them out at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.

Do they have nuts?

As written, this recipe does not include any nuts. That said, feel free to add some if you like! Toasted chopped pecans would be a lovely addition.

If you’ve tried this Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!