Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
We love when the holiday drinks come out at Starbucks, and are equally excited for the treats in the bakery case. The Cranberry Bliss Bars are a classic that we love to enjoy year after year. And, if possible, these homemade ones are even better. It’s the perfect treat to bring to your office holiday party or school function. We’ll let you decide if you tell them they’re Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars or let them think you stopped at the coffee shop on the way in.
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This is a great make ahead recipe for holiday parties, especially because it does require some cooling time. We highly recommend making it at least a day before you want to serve them, and storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. Then, when you’re ready to serve, let them come to room temperature for about half hour before you want to enjoy them.
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe Tips:
+ The bit of orange zest in the frosting adds such a nice brightness to these bars. Just scrape a bit of the skin off an orange and mix in. You’ll be so surprised at how much it enhances the recipe. Or, if you want to get fancy, you could make our homemade orange extract! All you’ll need in this recipe is a few drops, and then you can use the rest in future baked goods or cocktails. YUM.
+ If you don’t have a stand mixer, that’s okay. You can use a handheld mixer or some good old fashioned elbow grease to whip the dough and frosting together.
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Frosting and Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest, optional for orange flavor
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the softened butter and sugars to a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add an egg and beat for another minute. Add the other egg and vanilla extract and beat for another minute until smooth.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix with a soft spatula until just combined, then add the white chocolate chips and cranberries and mix again.
- Spread the batter into a 11×14 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown on the edges and firm in the center.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes, then transfer the uncut bars to a wire rack. Let cool completely, for about an hour. Transfer to the fridge and chill for another 20 minutes before frosting.
- To make the frosting, add the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and orange zest to a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined and smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Cut the cooled bars into large squares, then cut the squares in half diagonally to form the bar shape. Frost with the cream cheese, then sprinkle with the chopped cranberries.
- Combine the white chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring each time, until melted.
- Drizzle the white chocolate over the bars. Chill until ready to serve.
