Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
These Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful combination of soft, buttery blondies loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks, topped with a creamy orange-cream cheese frosting, chopped cranberries, and a white chocolate drizzle. Perfectly sweet and tangy with a luxurious texture, these bars make an irresistible treat for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Blondie Base
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7.5 oz)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter (6 oz)
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10.5 oz)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries (3.5 oz, loosely packed)
- 1 1/3 cups white chocolate, chopped or chips (8 oz)
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (6 oz)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated
Toppings
- 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)
- 1 2/3 cups white chocolate, melted (10 oz)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking pan and preheat oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal. Spray the parchment again to prevent sticking.
- Browns the butter. In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir frequently as it foams and the milk solids at the bottom turn golden brown. Once browned, remove from heat and pour into a bowl, scraping all flavorful bits. Let cool completely.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the cooled browned butter and light brown sugar until well blended. Add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest; stir until smooth.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries carefully without overmixing.
- Bake the blondies. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the top is set. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and finely grated orange zest until fluffy and smooth.
- Frost the blondies. Once the bars are fully cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Optional: chill for 10 minutes to firm up the frosting for easier decorating.
- Decorate toppings. Sprinkle the roughly chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosted surface. Drizzle melted white chocolate in a decorative pattern using a snipped corner of a zip-top bag or spoon.
- Chill and serve. Refrigerate until the frosting and chocolate drizzle are firm and set for neat slicing. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into triangles or desired shapes and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Browning the butter adds a deep, nutty flavor that enhances the blondies.
- Line your pan with parchment paper with overhang for easy removal.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the blondies soft and tender.
- Chilling the frosting before decorating helps achieve clean, neat designs.
- Store bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- For a richer orange flavor, add extra orange zest to the frosting if desired.
Keywords: Starbucks copycat, cranberry bliss bars, white chocolate bars, cranberry dessert, blondies, orange cream cheese frosting, holiday treats
