Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Copycat Recipe)
These copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are the perfect Christmas dessert this holiday season! This easy dessert recipe features a delicious, chewy, blondie-type base topped with tangy orange cream cheese frosting and topped with dried cranberries and white chocolate. They are perfect for holiday entertaining, and will save you loads of money vs. buying them at Starbucks!
Five Star Review…
“You’re definitely right about the orange zest complementing the cranberries perfectly. It gave the dessert a little extra “zing” that was delicious but not overpowering“
– KIM
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these amazing copycat Starbucks cranberry bliss bars:
INGREDIENT NOTES & SUBSTITUTIONS
Orange Zest and Orange Extract: These are two key ingredients that take these homemade cranberry bliss bars to the next level! It gives a hint of orange flavor and pairs so well with the cranberries! Don’t leave them out!
White Chocolate Chips: You can also use chunks of white chocolate (chopped).
HOW TO MAKE STARBUCKS CRANBERRY BLISS BARS: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, blend together wet ingredients for the bars.
Step 2: Then, add dry ingredients and mix well.
Step 3: Fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
Step 4: Spread batter onto your parchment paper lined baking sheet or jelly roll pan.
Step 5: Smooth with a rubber spatula.
Step 6: Bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through. Cool for at least an hour before frosting.
Step 7: While the cookie bars are cooling, make the sweet cream cheese frosting. In a medium bowl, add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract. With an electric mixer, beat until creamy, well-combined, and free of any lumps. The texture should be smooth and silky.
Step 8: Spread frosting onto cooled bars.
Step 9: Sprinkle the top with chopped, dried cranberries. Drizzle on melted white chocolate (optional).
HOW TO CUT CRANBERRY BLISS BARS
Place the bars onto a cutting board. First, cut three columns. Then make 4 horizontal cuts. Last, cut each square diagonally.
EXPERT TIPS
- If you would like thinner bars, and to yield more servings, you can use a 15×10 jelly roll pan or baking sheet.
- Make sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper, as it is much easier to remove from the baking sheet.
- These treats make perfect tiny dessert “bites!” If you’re serving a large group, cut them into small 1 inch squares for the perfect little bite!
Casey’s Top Tip: Place the bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting so you can get perfect cuts!
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
- Storage: Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also place them on a cookie tray or plate and cover them tightly with a couple of layers of plastic wrap.
- Freezing: These delicious cranberry bliss bars can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in a freezer container or freezer bag.
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Thank you! ~ Casey
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
For the cookie base
- 1 cup butter, melted 2 sticks, salted or unsalted
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp grated orange zest
- 1 tsp orange extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
For the topping/icing
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp grated orange zest
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted optional
Instructions
For the bars
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Melt butter in the microwave.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer), add the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, grated orange zest, orange extract, and vanilla. With a hand mixer or electric mixer, blend until all ingredients are fully incorporated (30-60 seconds).
- Add dry ingredients: Add in the flour, ground ginger, baking powder, and salt. Beat on low for 30-60 seconds, just until fully blended–do not over mix.
- Add goodies: Fold in white chocolate chips and dried cranberries with a wooden spoon.
- Prepare to bake: Spread batter evenly onto prepared pan with a spoon or spatula.
- Bake: Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. You want the bars to be nice and chewy, so try not to over bake. The bars will continue to cook a bit when they come out of the oven.
- Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely before frosting. This can take up to an hour or more–be patient 🙂 Bars can also be placed in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
For the Frosting/Topping
- Make the frosting: While bars are cooling, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest and vanilla extract. With an electric mixer, beat until creamy, well-combined and free of any lumps. Texture should be smooth and silky.
- Top the bars: Spread the frosting over the top of your cooled bars with a spatula. Sprinkle on the chopped, dried cranberries.
- White chocolate drizzle (optional): Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 20-second intervals. Mix in between each interval until melted. Allow the melted chocolate to cool for 10 minutes. Place the melted chocolate in a zip-top bag. Cut the tip of the bag and squeeze melted chocolate over the top of the bars (you can also just drizzle it on with a spoon).
- Cut: Place the bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour before cutting so you can get perfect cuts. Remove from the fridge and carefully lift bars off of the baking sheet (with the parchment paper left on). Place the bars onto a cutting board Your first cut will be making three columns. Then make 4 horizontal cuts. Then, cut each square diagonally. You can scroll up and look at the picture above for visual instructions.
- Serve or store: Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can also place them on a cookie tray or plate and cover tightly with a couple of layers of plastic wrap.
These copycat cranberry bliss bars look absolutely delicious just like a blocky blast in gaming, each bite is sure to be a delightful surprise.
These Cranberry Bliss bars were delicious. I used dark chocolate instead of white for the drizzle topping. The orange flavour was a real hit with my son. We would have preferred them to be a little less sweet so I will reduce the amount of sugar next time.
I love these at starbucks but they’re so expensive! This recipe is perfect!
Yesssss! White chocolate and cranberries are the best combo. Right? These were better than Starbucks! I’ll save a few bucks this year by making my own at home.
I adore copycat recipes, and this one looks amazing! I can’t wait to give it a try!
These cranberry bliss bars look absolutely marvelous! I can’t wait to dig into them.
You’re definitely right about the orange zest complementing the cranberries perfectly. It gave the dessert a little extra “zing” that was delicious but not overpowering.