Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a sweet and tangy treat, perfect for the holidays or any time you crave a delicious dessert. These bars feature a soft, chewy base loaded with cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a creamy frosting and festive sprinkles.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries craisins
- 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Topping:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries craisins, chopped
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips whole
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and orange extract and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
- Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
- Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean. You want there to be just a few crumbs stuck on the toothpick which means it is ready to come out.
- Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely.
- Prepare the frosting by beating the cream cheese until creamy in a large bowl or stand mixer. Add the powdered sugar, cornstarch, extracts, zest, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Once the bars have cooled, spread the icing over the top of them. Then sprinkle evenly with the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and the vegetable oil at 15-second intervals, stirring between each one. Once melted, use a fork to beat it smooth, then use the fork to drizzle the melted chocolate over the frosted bars.
- For best results, place the pan in the fridge and allow the finished bars to cool for an hour before cutting and removing them from the pan.
- To cut the bars, cut the pan into 3 rows of 4, this will give you 12 large squares. Then cut each square diagonally and you will have 24 triangular-shaped bars.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients.
- Do not overbake the bars.
- Cool the bars completely before frosting.
- Refrigerate the bars for at least an hour before cutting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg