Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Better Copycat)
Soft and chewy cranberry white chocolate blondie bars topped with a luscious cream cheese white chocolate frosting. The perfect Starbucks treat, right at your home!
Servings: 16 servings
Ingredients
For the Blondie Bars:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger don't skip it
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 oz white chocolate melted and slightly cooled
For Topping:
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- 1 oz white chocolate melted for drizzle
- Extra orange zest optional
Instructions
Make the Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth, about 1 minute.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest and mix until combined.2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp orange zest
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon.1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined. Don't overmix. Fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.3/4 cup dried cranberries, 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
- Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared pan. It will be thick, use the back of a spatula to smooth it out.
- Bake for 22-26 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). The center may look slightly underdone, that's okay, it will set as it cools. Start checking at 22 minutes. When center hits 200-202°F, pull them immediately.
- Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack (at least 1 hour).
Make the Frosting:
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.4 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Mix in vanilla extract, orange zest, salt, and melted white chocolate until well combined and smooth.1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp orange zest, 1/4 tsp salt, 3 oz white chocolate
- Spread frosting evenly over the completely cooled bars.
Finish:
- Sprinkle chopped dried cranberries over the frosting. Drizzle with melted white chocolate in a crosshatch or zigzag pattern. Add a sprinkle of fresh orange zest if desired.1/4 cup dried cranberries, 1 oz white chocolate, Extra orange zest
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting before cutting.
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into 16 squares (or cut into triangles like Starbucks!).
Notes
Don't overbake. Pull the bars when the center still looks slightly underdone. Start checking at 22 minutes, and they're ready at 200 to 202°F. They'll set as they cool.
Don't skip the ginger. Even a small amount gives these bars that authentic Starbucks flavor.
Make them ahead. The bars taste even better after 24 hours in the fridge, and chilling helps the frosting set for clean cuts.
Nutrition
Calories: 310Calories | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 188mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg
