Cranberry Bliss Bars: the simple, delicious Starbucks copycat recipe

Who doesn't love Starbucks' cranberry bliss bars? These chewy, buttery blondie cookie bars are backed with sweet-tart cranberries, white chocolate, and topped with a delicious vanilla-orange frosting.

Soft, chewy, yet with the perfect amount of firmness, cranberry bliss bars are the perfect treat to make when you're in the mood for something sweet and fruity.

Thanks to the cranberries, these delicious Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars are perfect for autumn and winter. Make them as a tasty breakfast or snack or wrap them up and give them to friends and family as an irresistible homemade treat.

Cranberry Bliss Bar Ingredients

The star ingredients of cranberry bliss bars are sweet-tart dried cranberries and white chocolate.

Butter gives these festive blondie cookies their rich, buttery flavor.

Flour, baking powder, and eggs form the bulk of the bars, which are seasoned with orange extract, vanilla extract, and a hint of ginger.

Cranberry bliss bars are topped with a sweet orange and vanilla cream cheese frosting and garnished with chocolate and chopped dried cranberries.

How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bars

It's super easy to make Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars. Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Start by combining the butter and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, orange extract, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, whisking until it's smooth.

Add in ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and flour. Be careful not to overmix the batter! Your bliss bars will wind up dense. Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate. Transfer the batter to the baking tray and bake the bar for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Let it cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with the frosting.

To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and lump-free. Beat in the orange and vanilla extracts, then dollop it over the cooled bar, using a spatula to smooth it out. Sprinkle dried cranberries and drizzle the chocolate over the top. Put the bar in the fridge so the frosting can set, then slice it.

How to Slice Cranberry Bliss Bars

You can cut your cranberry bliss bars into squares or triangles. Whichever way you prefer to cut them, make sure to use a sharp knife. To cut them into triangles, cut the bar into squares, then cut the squares in half diagonally to form triangles.

Tips for Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

If you don't have orange extract, you can use 1 teaspoon of orange zest mixed with 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice as a substitute.

You can make gluten-free cranberry bliss bars by using gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour.

Don't overmix the batter.

Don't overbake your cranberry bliss bars – they'll wind up hard instead of chewy.

How to Store Cranberry Bliss Bars

Keep your cranberry bliss bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 4 to 5 days.

Can You Freeze Cranberry Bliss Bars?

Absolutely! Once you've cut up the bars, place them in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw them out overnight in the fridge when you're ready to enjoy them.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Whisk the butter and brown sugar until smooth.

Beat the eggs.

Add the orange extract, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Whisk in ground ginger, baking powder, salt.

Add the sifted flour.

Fold in the white chocolate.

Add the dried cranberries.

Pour the batter in the baking tray.

Spread it evenly.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Leave on a rack to cool completely.

While the bar is cooling, make the frosting. In a bowl, add the cream cheese.

Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in orange extract and vanilla extract.

Spread over the cooled bar.

Garnish with dried cranberries.

Drizzle the chocolate over the top.

Cut into bars immediately or put the pan in the fridge to allow the frosting to set.

Serve and enjoy!