White Chocolate Cranberry Bars

These Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are such a delicious combination of tart dried cranberries, and sweet white chocolate. Inspired by the seasonal favorite at Starbucks, these bars are perfect for the holidays, or anytime of year!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cranberry, cranberry bliss bars, starbucks copycat, White Chocolate, white chocolate cranberry bars

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 22

Total Time: 37

Servings: bars

Calories: 305kcal

Ingredients

For the Cookie Bars:

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 TBS cornstarch
1 tsp orange zest
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white baking chips

For the Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For Topping the Bars:

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 cup white chocolate
1/2 tsp coconut oil (optional)

Instructions

For the Cookie Bars:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper, and lightly grease with nonstick spray. Set it aside.
Add the butter and brown sugar to a large bowl and mix them together for 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter
Add in the eggs, and vanilla extract and stir until just combined. 2 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract
Add in the dry ingredients, flour, cornstarch, orange zest, baking powder, salt, ginger, and baking soda. Stir until you have a soft cookie dough. 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 TBS cornstarch, 1 tsp orange zest, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp baking soda
Gently fold in the dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips until evenly mixed into the dough. 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup white baking chips
Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, pressing the dough to the edges, and pressing the top down evenly.
Bake the bars for 15 to 22 minutes minutes until the top is golden and the bars are baked through.
Place the pan on a wire cooling rack and let the bars cool completely.

For the Frosting:

Cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup unsalted butter
Add in the powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated. Mix for a couple minutes until the frosting is fluffy. 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cooled bars.

For Topping the Bars:

Sprinkle additional cranberries over the top of the bars, then sprinkle orange zest over the top too. 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1 tsp orange zest
Add the white chocolate and coconut oil to a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 20 second increments, stirring after each, until you can stir the chocolate smooth. 1/2 cup white chocolate , 1/2 tsp coconut oil
Scoop the white chocolate into a ziplock bag and snip the corner off. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top of the bars.
Slice the bars into squares, and then cut those each in half into triangles, and enjoy.

Nutrition