Description
These Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful dessert featuring a rich browned butter blondie base loaded with white chocolate and dried cranberries, topped with a creamy orange-infused cream cheese frosting, and finished with more cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle. Perfect for holiday treats or any sweet craving, they combine chewy, tangy, and sweet flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the blondie layer:
- 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)
For the 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
- 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)
- 1 2/3 cups white chocolate, melted (10 oz)
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on both sides for easy removal after baking. Spray the parchment paper again with nonstick spray to ensure the blondies don’t stick.
- Brown the butter: In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the butter foams and the milk solids at the bottom turn golden brown. As soon as the color changes, take the pan off the heat and pour the browned butter into a bowl, scraping in all the flavorful browned bits. Let the butter cool completely before using. Browning the butter deepens the flavor of these blondies!
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, combine the cooled browned butter and light brown sugar, whisking until well blended. Add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest, stirring until smooth.
- Combine batter: Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined—do not overmix. Fold in the chopped white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake the blondies: Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the top is set. Remove from oven and cool the pan on a wire rack to room temperature before frosting.
- Prepare frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sifted confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and finely grated orange zest until fluffy and smooth.
- Frost the bars: Once the blondies are completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Optionally, chill the bars for about 10 minutes after frosting to make decorating easier.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle the roughly chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosted surface. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the top in a decorative pattern. For easy drizzling, pour the melted white chocolate into a small zip-top bag and snip off the corner.
- Set and slice: Refrigerate the bars until the frosting and chocolate drizzle are firm and set. Once chilled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into triangles or desired shapes.
- Store and serve: Serve and enjoy! Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep fresh.
Notes
- Browning the butter enhances the depth of flavor in the blondie base.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the blondies tender.
- Chilling the bars after frosting helps in neat chocolate drizzle decoration.
- Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal of bars.
- Store bars in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Starbucks copycat, cranberry bliss bars, white chocolate, blondie bars, holiday dessert, cranberry bars, white chocolate cranberry bars
