Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Introduction

If you love the festive flavors of Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars, this copycat recipe is just for you. With browned butter, tart dried cranberries, and creamy orange frosting, these bars capture that perfect holiday treat at home.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7.5 oz)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 12 tbsp unsalted butter (6 oz)
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10.5 oz)
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries (3.5 oz, loosely packed)
• 1 1/3 cups white chocolate, chopped or chips (8 oz)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (6 oz)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated
• 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)
• 1 2/3 cups white chocolate, melted (10 oz, for drizzling)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray, then line the bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Spray the parchment paper as well.
2. Step 2: In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir frequently as it foams and the milk solids turn golden brown. Remove from heat immediately and pour the browned butter into a bowl, scraping in all the browned bits. Allow it to cool completely.
3. Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, mix the cooled browned butter and light brown sugar until blended. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest to the wet mixture and stir until smooth.
4. Step 4: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until edges are golden and top is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Step 5: Beat together cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and grated orange zest until fluffy and smooth. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Chill for about 10 minutes if desired before decorating.
6. Step 6: Sprinkle roughly chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosting. Drizzle melted white chocolate in a decorative pattern—using a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped makes this easy. Refrigerate until frosting and drizzle are firm.
7. Step 7: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Slice into squares and serve.

Tips & Variations

• Brown the butter carefully to deepen flavor but watch closely so it doesn’t burn.
• For extra texture, toast the dried cranberries lightly before folding them in.
• Substitute orange zest with lemon zest for a different citrus twist.
• Use high-quality white chocolate for a richer, smoother finish.

Storage

Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best texture, bring to room temperature before serving. You can also freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months; thaw and frost when ready to serve.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?

Fresh cranberries have more moisture and can affect the texture and baking time. Dried cranberries are recommended for the best results and flavor balance.

What can I substitute for cream cheese in the frosting?

You can try mascarpone or a blend of softened butter and powdered sugar, but cream cheese provides the signature tang and creaminess for this frosting.

Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 68 reviews

These Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars recreate the beloved holiday treat with a rich, buttery blondie base studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks, topped with a creamy orange-infused cream cheese frosting, additional cranberries, and a decorative white chocolate drizzle. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, these bars offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures that make for a festive and indulgent dessert.

• Author: Naya
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 22 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12–16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7.5 oz)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp table salt

Wet Ingredients and Mix-ins:

• 12 tbsp unsalted butter (6 oz)
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10.5 oz)
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries (3.5 oz, loosely packed)
• 1 1/3 cups white chocolate, chopped or chips (8 oz)

Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (6 oz)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated

Toppings:

• 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Baking Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray, line the bottom with parchment paper leaving overhang for easy removal, then spray the parchment again to prevent sticking.
2. Brown the Butter: Melt 12 tablespoons unsalted butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until the butter foams and the milk solids become golden brown. Remove from heat immediately and pour the browned butter into a bowl, scraping in all the flavorful bits. Allow it to cool completely before using to deepen the flavor of the blondies.
3. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate large bowl, combine the cooled browned butter and brown sugar, whisking until blended. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and grated orange zest, stirring until smooth.
4. Combine Batter and Bake: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula, taking care not to overmix. Fold in the white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 18-22 minutes until the edges are golden and the top is set. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature.
5. Prepare and Spread the Frosting: Beat together softened cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and finely grated orange zest until light and fluffy. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Optionally chill for 10 minutes to make decorating easier.
6. Add Toppings and Finish: Evenly sprinkle roughly chopped dried cranberries on top of the frosted bars. Drizzle melted white chocolate decoratively over the bars using a small zip-top bag with a snipped corner. Refrigerate until the frosting and drizzle are firm and set.
7. Slice and Serve: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan once chilled and set. Slice into squares and serve.

Notes

• Browning the butter adds a nutty depth of flavor that enhances the blondies.
• Be careful not to overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the texture tender.
• Chilling the frosted bars before drizzling chocolate makes decorating easier and the final texture neater.
• Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal and clean slicing.
• Store bars refrigerated to maintain frosting integrity and consume within 3-4 days for best freshness.

Keywords: Cranberry Bliss Bars, Starbucks copycat recipe, cranberry dessert, white chocolate blondies, holiday bars, cream cheese frosting, festive dessert