Cranberry Bliss Bars (Print Version)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries, topped with tangy orange frosting and white chocolate drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bar Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup packed brown sugar
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
04 - 3 large eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

→ Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

12 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

→ Topping

16 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped (optional)
17 - 1/3 cup white chocolate, melted (optional)

# How To:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Using a spatula, gently fold in chopped cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
07 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in pan for 15 minutes. Lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in orange zest and fresh orange juice until creamy and spreadable.
11 - Once completely cooled, spread frosting evenly across the surface of the bars.
12 - If desired, sprinkle additional chopped cranberries over frosting. Drizzle melted white chocolate across the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut bars into uniform squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste like a festive coffeehouse treat but cost a fraction of the price and fill your kitchen with the scent of citrus and vanilla.
  • The orange cream cheese frosting is tangy enough to balance the sweetness, and the white chocolate drizzle makes them look bakery-perfect with almost no effort.
02 -
  • Make sure the cream cheese is truly softened before you start the frosting—cold cream cheese will leave lumps no amount of beating can fix.
  • Don't skip chopping the cranberries; whole ones create uneven bites and make the bars harder to cut cleanly.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly—it gives you clean, professional-looking coverage without tearing the surface of the bars.
  • Melt the white chocolate slowly in 15-second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one, to avoid seizing or burning.
Go Back