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Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 14 reviews

These Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are soft and buttery blondies loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a tangy orange cream cheese frosting, more dried cranberries, orange zest, and a drizzle of white chocolate. Perfectly sweet, slightly tart, and creamy, these bars are a holiday favorite that you can easily make at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Blondie Base

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ tsp orange extract
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ⅓ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips

Frosting

  • 5 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp orange extract
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Toppings

  • Dried cranberries, chopped, for garnish
  • Zest of a small orange
  • White chocolate or white chocolate bark, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, making sure the parchment hangs over two edges for easy removal later.
  2. Make Blondie Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, beat the melted butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed using a hand mixer for about 3 minutes until well combined and smooth. Add orange extract, vanilla extract, and the room temperature egg. Mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and ground ginger. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula just until no dry flour is visible. Do not overmix. Fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips evenly.
  4. Bake the Blondies: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges turn slightly golden and the center is nearly set but still soft. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  5. Prepare the Frosting: In a small bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange extract, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled blondies using an offset spatula.
  6. Add Toppings: Scatter chopped dried cranberries and orange zest evenly over the frosting. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between intervals, until smooth. Drizzle the melted white chocolate in a zigzag pattern over the top using a fork or piping bag.
  7. Chill and Slice: For best results, refrigerate the bars for 1-2 hours or overnight to set the frosting and enhance the flavors. Use the parchment paper to carefully lift the bars from the pan. Slice diagonally to yield 8 regular-sized or 16 mini triangular bars.

Notes

  • Use room temperature egg and softened cream cheese for best mixing results.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and soft.
  • Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven; watch for golden edges and a nearly set center.
  • For an extra citrusy kick, add additional orange zest into the batter if desired.
  • Store leftover bars tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • These bars freeze well for up to 3 months; thaw in the fridge before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Starbucks copycat, cranberry bliss bars, white chocolate bars, holiday dessert, cranberry bars, cream cheese frosting, orange zest

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/starbucks-copycat-cranberry-bliss-bars-recipe/