Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars is the copy of the original Cranberry Bliss Bar with chunks of white chocolate and dried cranberries throughout blondie base, then topped with cream cheese frosting, a drizzle of white chocolate.
As I re-write this recipe, this time with Starbucks having discontinued selling the original Cranberry Bliss bars, I am twice as happy to share this recipe. A true holiday favorite, these white chocolate cranberry bars are one of the most delicious treats the famous coffee company used to carry. Each year when holidays come around and I make a batch of these wonderful Cranberry Bliss Bars I am thankful that my friend Olya who shared this recipe with me.
Being able to re-create the authentic flavor of the Cranberry Bliss Bars makes me giddy with excitement. These bars are as fun to make as they are to eat. I cut my bars into pretty small pieces, which makes them really cute in my opinion.
I am not sure why Starbucks decided to change up the recipe for the bars and replace their original cookie-like crust with a cake-like one, but I do not like the one they have right now. Or, should I say, I just like the ones they had before better.
So to replicate the base in the recipe for these bars the base is made to be a little more dense, holding well to the spread of the cream cheese frosting, cranberries and white chocolate.
The white chocolate in both the crust and the drizzle on top creates a nice balance for the tartness of the Craisins.
Even though the recipe has several steps involved, they are all pretty basic and simple to execute. See for yourself and enjoy a traditional holiday treat with a cup of hot cocoa or tea!
Makes: One 12×16 baking sheet
Ingredients for the White Chocolate Cranberry Bars:
- unsalted butter (softened, not melted)
- salt
- brown sugar
- all-purpose flour
- eggs
- baking powder
- minced crystallized ginger or finely grated fresh ginger
- vanilla extract
- Craisins (dry cranberries), chopped
- white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate bar
For garnish:
- Craisins (dried cranberries), chopped
- white chocolate chips
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- cream cheese
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- lemon juice
- orange extract
How to make Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350F with the rack in the middle. Line a 12×16 inch baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Set aside.
- Cream together brown sugar, salt & butter. Next, add eggs & vanilla extract, one egg at a time creaming the mixture in between. Add grated ginger, flour & baking powder and stir everything together. Now, Add cranberries & white chocolate and fold them in.
- Using wet hands or wet spatula spread the batter evenly in a 12×16 inch baking pan. Finally, bake for about 20minutes or until the middle is baked through. Do not overbake or the bars will be very dry. Allow to cool.
How to make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, orange extract & vanilla extract to a bowl of a mixer. Using a beater or a whip attachment beat/whip everything together until creamy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Place the white chocolate in a cup and microwave for about 40-50 seconds in 7-8 increments stirring with a spoon in between, until it just starts to melt. Continue stirring until all chocolate is melted. Transfer it to a ziplock bag and twist the end around the chocolate. When ready to drizzle, snip the end with scissors.
How to Assemble the White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
- Spread the frosting over the cooled down crust, then sprinkle the craisins on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate on top. Allow the bars to set until the top of the cream cheese frosting is not sticky to the touch, about 2 hours. This will make it easier to cut the bars
- Trim the ends of the bars, for even edges. Cut the bars into squares, then cut the squares diagonally into triangles. The pictures below are of a half portion. Full portion will give you twice as many bars as you see below.
So are you a fan of Starbucks’? Do you like the new bakery they are using now or are you missing the old stuff, like me?
Also, checkout my updated VIDEO RECIPE of these delicious CRANBERRY BLISS BARS below.
Here are some more Desserts to try:
- Apple Coffee Cake – The best apple cake topped with a homemade streusel topping.
- Lazy Cheesecake Swirl Brownies – Delicious chocolate brownies with cheesecake.
- Cranberry Bliss Coffee Cake – Coffee cake loaded with Cranberries, White Chocolate, and a Cream Cheese Frosting.
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
4.7 from 26 votes
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars - copy of the original Cranberry Bliss Bar, it has a blondie cake base filled with white chocolate and craisins, then topped with cream cheese frosting, more cranberries and white chocolate.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry bliss bar
Calories: 207 kcal
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Ingredients
For the White Chocolate Cranberry Blondie Base
- 1¼cupbrown sugarpacked
- ½tspsalt
- 1½sticks buttersoftened, not melted
- 3eggs
- 1½tspvanilla extract
- 2tblsp minced crystallized ginger or 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
- 1½cupflour
- ½tspbaking powder
- ¾–1½ cups dried cranberries
- 4oz.white chocolate chips
For garnish
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4ozcream cheese
- 1 1/2cupspowdered sugar
- 4tsplemon juiceabout 1 lemon
- 1/4 tsporange extract
- 1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Prep:
Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle. Line a 12x16 inch baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Set aside.
Make the White Chocolate Cranberry Blondie Base:
Cream together 1¼ cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp salt & 1½ sticks butter. Add 3 eggs & 1½ tsp vanilla extract, one egg at a time creaming the mixture in between. Add 2 Tbsp grated ginger, 1½ cup flour & ½ tsp baking powder and stir everything together. Add Craisins & white chocolate and fold them in. Using wet hands or wet spatula spread the batter evenly in a 12x16 inch baking pan. Bake for about 20 minutes until the middle is baked through. Do not overbake or the bars will be very dry. Allow cooling.
How to make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
Add 4 oz cream cheese, 1½ cups powdered sugar, 4 tsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp orange extract & 1 tsp vanilla extract to a bowl of a mixer. Using a beater or a whip attachment beat/whip everything together until creamy, about 4-5 minutes.
Place the white chocolate in a cup and microwave for about 40-50 seconds in 7-8 increments stirring with a spoon in between, until it just starts to melt. Continue stirring until all chocolate is melted. Transfer it to a ziplock bag and twist the end around the chocolate. When ready to drizzle, snip the end with scissors.
Asssemble:
Spread the frosting over the cooled down crust. Sprinkle the craisins on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate on top. Allow the bars to set until the top of the cream cheese frosting is not sticky to the touch, about 2 hours. This will make it easier to cut the bars
Trim the ends of the bars, for even edges. Cut the bars into squares, then cut the squares diagonally into triangles.
Nutrition Facts
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 207Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 32mg11%
Sodium 98mg4%
Potassium 82mg2%
Carbohydrates 37g12%
Sugar 29g32%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 110IU2%
Vitamin C 0.4mg0%
Calcium 44mg4%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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