Description
These Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are a better copycat version of the iconic holiday treat featuring moist blondie bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, extra cranberries, and a white chocolate drizzle with a hint of orange zest for a festive flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Blondie Bars:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 & ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp orange zest
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 oz white chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
For Topping:
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1 oz white chocolate, melted for drizzle
- Extra orange zest (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal of bars.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest until fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, and cinnamon until evenly mixed.
- Fold Dry into Wet: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Then fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Spread Batter: Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared pan, using the back of a spatula to smooth out the surface.
- Bake: Bake for 22-26 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Start checking at 22 minutes. For precision, the center should reach 200-202°F before removing from oven.
- Cool Bars: Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: Using an electric mixer, beat together softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Sugar and Flavorings to Frosting: Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth, then mix in vanilla, orange zest, salt, and melted white chocolate until fully combined.
- Frost Bars: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled blondie bars.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosting. Drizzle with melted white chocolate in zigzag or crosshatch pattern. Optionally, add a sprinkle of fresh orange zest for extra brightness.
- Chill to Set: Refrigerate the frosted bars for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set before cutting.
- Cut and Serve: Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into 16 equal squares or triangles like Starbucks style for serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a lighter version, try the original 2020 recipe with 10 tbsp butter creamed with ½ cup brown sugar, 1 egg, ½ tsp vanilla, ½ tbsp orange zest. Mix in 1¼ cups flour, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ⅛ tsp ginger, ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries, and ⅔ cup white chocolate chips. Bake in an 8×8 pan at 350°F for 20–22 minutes.
- The original frosting used 4 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ tsp vanilla, ½ tbsp orange zest, and ¼ cup melted white chocolate. Top with extra cranberries and drizzle with white chocolate, chilling before slicing.
- Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep bars tender and moist.
- Use fresh orange zest for the best citrus flavor in both batter and frosting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16th of recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
