Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (2024)

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Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (1)

This past Christmas I became a bit obsessed with re-creating Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. These delicious treats are one of Starbucks most popular holiday desserts. The Starbucks version consists of a chewy, cake base (similar to a blondie) studded with white chocolate chunksand cranberries, then a delicious cream cheese frosting, topped with more cranberries and a drizzle of white chocolate. Sounds delicious, right?This iswhy I had to learn to make them!

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (2)

Afterpurchasing two Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks (in the name of research), reading the ingredient list of theoriginal (from Starbucks)and then reading through at least a dozen different recipe claiming to be the “top secret recipe”, Iheaded to the kitchen andworked upa recipe that I’m reallyhappy with. I made several batchesover Christmas and the bars received rave reviews from all of my “taste-testers” (the official panel includes my friends, neighbors and my husband’s co-workers). Now to be fair, the end results of my recipe tests did not create an exact copy of the original Starbucks version. Although I know this recipe has most all of the same ingredients, the Starbucks version is a bit chewier, and this recipe is a bit more cake-like. But the flavor is right on.And everyone who tastedmy versionsaid they were as good, if not better than the “original”.

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (slightly softened)

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons fresh orange zest

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon powdered ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cup dried, sweetened cranberries, chopped

6 ounces (about 3/4 cup) white chocolate chips

~ Frosting ~

4ounces cream cheese, softened

2Tablespoonsbutter

2cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon orange extract

1/2- 2/3 cup dried, sweetened cranberries, chopped

2 ounces white chocolate, melted

~ Directions ~

1.) Preheat oven to 350 (F) degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan then set aside (I also like to line the pan with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the two long sides- this allows the bars to be pulled out of the panafter bakingfor easier cutting).

2.) In a medium bowl add the flour, powdered ginger, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Set bowl aside.

3.) In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, and orange zest and mix well. Gradually add the flour mixture and blend until combined.

4.) Stir in cranberries and white chocolate. Pour the batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.

5.) Bake25-30 minutes, until edges are light brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6.) Prepare frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and orange extract. Beat about 1 minute until fully incorporated.

7.) Assemble dessert by spreading the frosting onto the baked and cooled bars. Sprinkle additional cranberries on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate on top as desired.

Recipe Source ~ Final recipe by Glorious Treats

(Adapted from Mr. Breakfast, based on the original recipe from Starbucks)

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (3)

Share these delicious treats with someone you love!

To make heart shaped bars, I used a heart cookie cutter.

You could alsocut the bars into triangles, and then argue with your friends that you did in fact make them (and didn’t just buy them from Starbucks).

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (4)

How to Make Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (5)

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

A recreate of the famous Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars!

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Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Ingredients

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, slightly softened
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 cup cranberries dried, sweetened , chopped
  • 6 oz white chocolate chips about 3/4 cup

Frosting

  • 4 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
  • 1/2- 2/3 cup cranberries dried, sweetened , chopped
  • 2 ounces white chocolate melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 (F) degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan then set aside (I also like to line the pan with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the two long sides- this allows the bars to be pulled out of the pan after baking for easier cutting).

  • In a medium bowl add the flour, powdered ginger, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Set bowl aside.

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, and orange zest and mix well. Gradually add the flour mixture and blend until combined.

  • Stir in cranberries and white chocolate. Pour the batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.

  • Bake 25-30 minutes, until edges are light brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

  • Prepare frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and orange extract. Beat about 1 minute until fully incorporated.

  • Assemble dessert by spreading the frosting onto the baked and cooled bars. Sprinkle additional cranberries on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate on top as desired.

Keyword cranberry white chocolate bars

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

~ Shopping notes ~

Cute red and white straws from Shop Sweet Lulu.

The little milk bottles were a gift from a friend. Similar ones are available from Sharnel Dollar Design.

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars {Recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Starbucks cranberry bliss bars? ›

Wheat flour, Sugars [brown sugar, sucrose, maltodextrin], Cream cheese [pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, carob bean gum, guar gum], Butter, White confectionery coating [sugar, vegetable oils, whey powder, skim milk powder, soy lecithin, natural flavour, vanilla], Cranberries [cranberries, sugar, ...

What happens if you overcook cranberry sauce? ›

If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.

What is the cranberry thing at Starbucks? ›

Melt away the holiday chill with the sweet and tart flavors of whole dried cranberries in layers of creamy milk chocolate. They pair well with a range of beverages, from Central and South American coffees to lattes, mochas and more.

Do Starbucks cranberry bliss bars need to be refrigerated? ›

Do Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Need to be Refrigerated? One of the most pressing questions regarding this recipe is whether or not they need to be refrigerated after baking. The answer is yes. They will keep better in the refrigerator and especially since it has the cream cheese frosting on top.

Why does my homemade cranberry sauce taste bitter? ›

Dear Evelyn: I had the same problem when I first started making my own cranberry sauce. I found out that you should cook them just until they pop. Further cooking will make them bitter, and once that happens, you need to start again.

Why is my homemade cranberry sauce runny? ›

Though they won't tolerate runny sauce, so it's time to fix that. The simplest reason that your cranberry sauce is too runny is that it has too much liquid in it. Usually, this is just water, but some people use orange juice or other flavored fluids. No matter what you're using, the answer is to cook it longer.

How do you get the bitterness out of cranberry sauce? ›

Add A Splash Of Vinegar

While citrus is a natural pairing for cranberry sauce, bright, savory vinegars like sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar play well with the bitter-tart berries. Start with a little, then add more gradually. It's easy to overdo it when in comes to bold vinegars.

Are there nuts in cranberry bliss bars? ›

The Starbucks version of the cranberry bliss bars does not have nuts. My recipe does not have nuts in the batter, but I add chopped pistachios to the topping.

Does the Cranberry Bliss bar have dairy? ›

“Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Enzyme, Folic Acid], Brown Sugar, Cream Cheese [Pasteurized Milk And Cream, Cheese Culture, Salt, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum], Butter [Cream], White Confectionery Coating[Sugar, Palm Kernel And Palm Oils, Whey Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, ...

Are Craisins dried cranberries? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

What sugar packets does Starbucks have? ›

Starbucks Sweeteners

The packets essentially encompass your more traditional sugars and sugar alternatives, like Sugar in the Raw or Splenda, while Liquid Sweeteners refer to Starbucks' syrup-like sweeteners that are made in house. Starbucks Sweetener Packets: Sugar. Sugar In The Raw.

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