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Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

Homemade Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars to Wow Your Holiday Guests

Delight your guests with these Homemade Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars featuring a chewy blondie base and luscious cream cheese frosting.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 200
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Blondie Base
  • 1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour Substitute with gluten-free flour for a gluten-free option.
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder Essential for rising.
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt Kosher or sea salt can be used.
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon Pumpkin spice can be a festive alternative.
  • 0.25 teaspoon Ground Cloves Omit if unavailable.
  • 0.5 cups Salted Butter Unsalted butter is fine—add a pinch of salt.
  • 1 cup Light Brown Sugar Offers sweetness with a hint of caramel.
  • 2 large Eggs No substitutes recommended for best results.
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Feel free to experiment with other extracts.
  • 1 cup Dried Cranberries Can swap with cherries for variety.
  • 0.5 cups White Chocolate Chopped; can substitute with semi-sweet.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese Gives that creamy base; Greek yogurt can serve as a lighter option.
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar Granulated sugar can be a substitute.
  • 1 Grated Orange Zest Lemon zest can be an exciting twist.
  • 0.25 cup Melted White Chocolate Omit for a less sweet finish.

Equipment

  • 9x11 inch baking pan
  • mixing bowls
  • whisk
  • spatula
  • electric mixer
  • Saucepan

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x11 inch baking pan by greasing lightly or lining with parchment paper.
  2. Combine 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves in a mixing bowl.
  3. Melt ½ cup of salted butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, mix in 1 cup of light brown sugar until smooth and glossy. Allow cooling for about 5 minutes.
  4. Add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cooled mixture and blend until well combined.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently until just combined.
  6. Fold in 1 cup of dried cranberries and ½ cup of chopped white chocolate.
  7. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan and bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
  8. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  9. Beat together 8 ounces of cream cheese and 1 cup of powdered sugar until creamy. Add the zest of 1 orange.
  10. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bars and optionally sprinkle with additional dried cranberries and drizzle with melted white chocolate.
  11. Refrigerate the frosted bars for at least 30 minutes before cutting into desired shapes and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 50mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg

Notes

These bars can be customized with nuts or different dried fruits for unique variations. They can also be prepared in advance for stress-free holiday baking.

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