Copy Cat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Published 8/26/2024
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These Copy Cat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars taste just like the menu item favorite but without all the additives and preservatives (#winning!).
Made with a soft blondie base, topped with a cream cheese frosting, and topped with cranberries and white chocolate, these bars have a piece of bliss in every bite!
Starbucks always has such yummy snacks and treats!! They’ve inspired us to make these Cheesy Sous Vide Egg Bites, but now it’s time for a dessert recipe 😏 These copy cat Starbucks cranberry bliss bars are easy to make and perfectly sweet.
Just make the dough, press into a baking dish, and bake. Then make the frosting, and add your tasty toppings. You’re gonna LOVE THESE.
Copy Cat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars – What You Need
- All-purpose flour: We’re using all-purpose flour as the base of this recipe. This helps to create a soft, chewy texture.
- Ground ginger: Ginger adds a slight spice to the bars that pair perfectly with cranberries and white chocolate.
- White chocolate chips: This gets mixed in the dough and melted and drizzled on as a topping.
- Dried cranberries: A fall and winter season staple! Cranberries add a sweet and tart flavor to these bars.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar makes the blondie base perfectly sweet.
- Egg: We’re using just 1 egg, which helps to bind the ingredients and create a chewy consistency.
- Orange: Fresh orange juice and orange zest add a bright, citrusy flavor to the bars.
- Cream cheese: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the other frosting ingredients.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds a tangy flavor to the frosting and helps to create a smooth texture.
- Powdered sugar: The base of most frostings! Powdered sugar helps to thicken the frosting and add sweetness.
- Stand mixer: You can use a hand mixer, but we love using our stand mixer for this recipe.
Can I make this Starbucks cranberry bliss bar recipe gluten-free?
Yes! To make gluten-free cranberry bliss bars, swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Make sure to read the instructions on your specific brand of gluten-free flour for any additional measurement adjustments.
Add More Goodies to Your Bars
I will always approve of adding more toppings to your baked goods! Here are a few ideas for extra goodies to add to these copycat cranberry bliss bars:
- Chopped pecans or walnuts: For some added crunch and nutty flavor.
- White chocolate chunks: Instead of chips, try adding chunks of white chocolate to the blondie batter. Yum!
- Almond extract: If you like almond flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract to the batter for an extra layer of flavor.
How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bars (Step by Step!)
These homemade cranberry bliss bars are easier to make than you might think. Here’s a breakdown of the steps, but make sure to scroll down for the full written instructions and measurements in the recipe card!
- Preheat Oven: Start by preheating the oven to 350℉. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment and set aside.
- Mix Dry: Next, place all of the dry ingredients into a bowl. Mix and set aside.
- Cream Butter: Use a standing mixer to cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Mix Wet: Next, add the egg, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla to the bowl and mix.
- Combine: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to combine.
- Bake: Once mixed, transfer the dough to the baking dish and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Spread the frosting on top of the bars.
- Add Toppings & Serve: Top with dried cranberries and drizzle with melted white chocolate. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to firm up the chocolate. Serve and enjoy!
Top Tips for the Yummiest Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars
Don’t overmix: When adding the dry ingredients to the wet, be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can result in a tough and dense.
Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure your butter, egg, and yogurt are at room temperature before mixing. This will ensure that they combine smoothly and evenly.
Be patient when frosting: Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting. If they are still warm, the frosting will melt and become messy.
Storage
Store any leftover homemade cranberry bliss bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Dry
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Wet
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 2 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips, melted
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment and set aside.
- Place all of the dry ingredients into a bowl. Mix and set aside.
- Use a standing mixer to cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Next, add the egg, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla to the bowl and mix.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to combine.
- Transfer the dough to the baking dish and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Once the bars are completely cooled, prepare the frosting. Add the cream cheese, greek yogurt, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a bowl and mix. Spread the frosting on top of the bars.
- Top with dried cranberries and drizzle the melted white chocolate on top. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to allow the melted chocolate time to firm up.
Tips & Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.
