Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Better Copycat)

Close-up of Starbucks cranberry bliss bars showing layers of chewy blondie, white chocolate chunks, and cream cheese frosting topped with dried cranberries and orange zest.

5 from 2 votes

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Better Copycat)

Soft and chewy cranberry white chocolate blondie bars topped with a luscious crema cheese white chocolate frsoting. The perfect Starbucks treat, right at your home!

Prep Time20

Cook Time25

Total Time44

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Chahinez Tabet Aoul

Ingredients

For the Blondie Bars:

½ 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 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground ginger critical!
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
1/2 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 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

US Customary - Metric

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.
½ cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
2 large eggs room temperature, 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 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp cornstarch, ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground ginger critical!, ¼ 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.
¾ cup dried cranberries, ¾ 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, and melted white chocolate until well combined and smooth.
½ 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.
¼ 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

Notes

If you loved my original 2020 version, here’s a quick recap! It makes a slightly lighter, classic-style bar with a simpler frosting.

Cream 10 tbsp butter with ½ cup brown sugar, add 1 egg, ½ tsp vanilla, and 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.

Frost with 4 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, ¼ tsp vanilla, ½ tbsp orange zest, and ¼ cup melted white chocolate. Top with more cranberries and drizzle with white chocolate. Chill before slicing!

Nutrition