Cranberry Bliss Bars cut into squares
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Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe (Starbucks-Inspired)

These sweet, tangy bars are loaded with dried cranberries, white chocolate, and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and a hint of orange zest. They’re inspired by the Starbucks favorite — but fresher, more budget-friendly, and perfect for holiday trays or cozy fall afternoons.

They’re always a hit at back-to-school events and make beautiful gifts for teachers

Why You’ll Love This

  • Coffehouse-inspired, made fresh at home
  • Sweet-tangy mix of cranberries, white chocolate, and orange zest
  • Easy to slice and share for fall and winter gatherings

Shopping Made Simple

You can make this recipe with one standard 12 oz (340g) bag of white chocolate chips and one standard 6 oz (170g) bag of dried cranberries. You may have a little left over, depending on how you measure — feel free to sprinkle extra on top or fold into the batter for even more flavor.

Ingredients

Yields ~20–24 smaller bars

Bars:

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (170g) white chocolate chips (from your bag)
  • ¾ cup (90g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped

Frosting:

  • 6 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbps butter, softened
  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp orange zest
  • ½ cup (85g) white chocolate chips, melted and cooled slightly, then folded into frosting (about 3 oz from your bag)

Topping:

  • ¼ cup dried cranberries, chopped (about 1 oz from your bag)
  • ¼ cup white chocolate chips, chopped (about 1 oz from your bag, optional)

Pan Recommendation

Use a 13×9-inch baking pan. Glass (like Pyrex) bakes more evenly and lets you see the edges as they brown. If using a dark metal pan, check for doneness 2–3 minutes earlier, as it will absorb more heat and can brown the edges faster.

Instructions

Make the bars:

  1. Preheat & prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easier removal (optional but recommended).
  2. Make batter: In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Whisk in eggs and vanilla until fully combined.
  3. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add to wet mixture, stirring just until combined.
  4. Fold in mix-ins: Gently fold in white chocolate chips and chopped dried cranberries.
  5. Bake: Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 18–22 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
  6. Cool completely: Let bars cool in the pan at least 1½–2 hours before frosting.

Make the frosting:

  1. Beat & mix: Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest; beat until fluffy.
  2. Add chocolate: Fold melted white chocolate into the frosting until fully incorporated.

Frost & finish:

  1. Top: Spread frosting evenly over cooled bars. Sprinkle with chopped cranberries and chopped white chocolate.
  2. Chill & slice: Refrigerate at least 2 hours (or overnight) before slicing into squares or triangles for serving.

Tips & Variations

  • For a stronger orange flavor, add more zest to the frosting or a drop of orange extract.
  • Make ahead — these bars taste even better the next day after chilling overnight.
  • Swap white chocolate chips for chunks for a more bakery-style texture.
  • For cleaner cuts, slice the bars when they are well-chilled and wipe the knife clean in between slices.

💬 Did you make these Cranberry Bliss Bars?

I’d love to hear if you kept them classic or added your own twist — and whether they were a hit at your gathering!

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