Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
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.
- 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
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
