Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful holiday treat featuring a rich, buttery blondie base infused with bright orange zest, studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, all topped with a luscious white chocolate cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of melted white chocolate. Perfect for festive gatherings or anytime you crave a sweet and tangy dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp. orange zest (zest from 1 orange)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed (light brown sugar works too)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon (or ground ginger)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
- 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
- 1 Tbsp. orange zest
- Dried cranberries, roughly chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Create Orange Sugar: In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar with the orange zest. Rub the zest and sugar together between your fingertips to release the oils and fully infuse the sugar with fresh orange flavor.
- Mix Sugars: Add the brown sugar to the orange-infused granulated sugar and stir until well combined.
- Add Butter: Pour in the melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter and whisk everything together until a smooth paste forms, about one minute.
- Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking again to combine evenly and create a cohesive batter.
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and ground cinnamon (or ground ginger). Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until combined; the batter should be thick, which is perfect for the bars.
- Fold in Cranberries and Chocolate: Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Spread Batter and Bake: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 23-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
- Cool the Bars: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Melt White Chocolate and Coconut Oil: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips with coconut oil until smooth, stirring as needed to prevent burning.
- Prepare Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and orange zest until smooth and creamy. Mix in half of the melted white chocolate until well incorporated.
- Frost the Bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
- Garnish and Drizzle: Sprinkle chopped dried cranberries on top. Using a fork or piping bag, drizzle the remaining melted white chocolate over the frosted bars. Optionally, add a little more orange zest for extra aroma and color.
- Set and Serve: Allow the white chocolate to set at room temperature or refrigerate for about 30 minutes to achieve clean-cut edges when slicing. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars and enjoy.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature cream cheese to ensure a smooth frosting consistency.
- You can substitute light brown sugar if dark brown sugar is not available; the flavor will be slightly lighter.
- If you want a spicier flavor, substitute ground cinnamon with ground ginger or add a pinch of nutmeg.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Bring bars to room temperature before serving to enhance flavor and texture.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute cream cheese with a plant-based alternative and use dairy-free white chocolate chips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry bliss bars, holiday dessert bars, white chocolate cranberry bars, orange zest bars, cream cheese frosting bars
