Description
This Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars copycat recipe recreates the beloved holiday treat featuring tender, buttery blondies studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, festive orange zest, and drizzled white chocolate. Perfect for holiday gatherings or anytime you crave a sweet, tangy dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
Blondie Base
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- Scant ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) salted butter, cubed
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 6 oz white chocolate, coarsely chopped (or 8 oz chips)
Cream Cheese Frosting and Topping
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ tsp grated orange zest
- 4 oz white chocolate, melted
- ½ cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×11-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves; set aside.
- Make Blondie Batter: Melt the cubed butter in a saucepan or microwave until fully melted, then stir in the packed light brown sugar until completely incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Allow this mixture to cool to room temperature. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract on medium speed until combined. Lower the mixer speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined with no visible flour. The batter will be very thick. Fold in the dried cranberries and coarsely chopped white chocolate until evenly distributed.
- Bake the Blondies: Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan. Using your hands or a spatula, gently flatten the batter evenly into the pan without compressing it too much. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. My bake time was exactly 18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: In the stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat softened cream cheese and sifted powdered sugar on medium speed until smooth and fully combined, about 30 seconds. Quickly mix in the grated orange zest until evenly incorporated.
- Assemble Bars: Once the blondies are completely cool, carefully remove the entire block from the pan and place on a large cutting board. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top, extending out to the edges using an offset spatula for smoothness. Sprinkle the coarsely chopped dried cranberries evenly over the frosted surface. Drizzle the melted white chocolate generously over the cranberries and frosting in a casual pattern.
- Chill and Cut: Transfer the assembled blondies to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting to set properly. Remove from refrigerator and cut the bars lengthwise into thirds, then cut each third crosswise into four squares. Cut each square diagonally in half to create triangles. If desired, cut triangles in half again for smaller portions.
- Storage and Serving: These bars can be kept at room temperature for a couple of days but store best refrigerated in an airtight container. Serve chilled straight from the refrigerator or allow to warm slightly to room temperature before enjoying.
Notes
- Ensure the butter and sugar mixture cools to room temperature before adding eggs to prevent curdling.
- Use an offset spatula for even frosting application.
- White chocolate chips or coarsely chopped bars both work well; chop bars for slightly chunkier texture.
- Bars keep well refrigerated and can be gently warmed before serving if preferred.
- The recipe yields about 24 triangular bars depending on the final cut size.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Starbucks, Cranberry Bliss Bars, Blondies, Copycat Recipe, Holiday Dessert, White Chocolate, Cream Cheese Frosting
