These Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars have everything you love about the original, but they’re homemade so they’re even tastier! They feature a buttery blondie base loaded with cranberries and white chocolate and an irresistible cream cheese frosting.
Like everyone, I love Starbucks, but I love it even more when I can make my favorite Starbucks treats at home. So far I’ve made Copycat Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites and Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew, and with Christmas coming up, I figured it was the perfect time to try my hand at replicating their Cranberry Bliss Bars!
If you haven’t had them before, they’re a cookie bar flavored with orange, cranberry, and white chocolate, then topped with cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of almond-flavored white chocolate. They are so good, but I think I like my homemade version even more!
Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bar Recipe
I’m planning on making a batch of Cranberry Bliss Bars to add to my Christmas cookie platters this year, but even a plate of these alone would be great for holiday gifting! To complete the Starbucks-at-home experience, you can put them in a basket or gift box with a festive mug and a bag of coffee beans.
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- Butter
- Brown sugar – I recommend using light brown sugar for this recipe, but dark will work just fine too.
- Eggs – Take your eggs out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter to come to room temperature.
- Orange extract – The orange extract is the perfect complement to the cranberries! You can use orange zest instead, but the flavor is more intense with extract.
- Vanilla extract
- Ground ginger
- Baking powder
- Salt
- All purpose flour
- White chocolate chips
- Craisins
For the Frosting and Topping:
- Cream cheese – The cream cheese should be at room temperature, which makes it easier to whip up into a smooth, creamy frosting.
- Powdered sugar
- Orange extract
- Craisins
- Almond bark – Or substitute white chocolate. I like the flavor of almond bark, though!
How to Make Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
1. Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a 13×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, then spray it with nonstick baking spray.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients
Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and ginger into a bowl.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat together the melted butter and brown sugar on medium speed
4. Add Remaining Ingredients
Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the extracts. Then, add the dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Fold in the white chocolate chips and Raisins.
5. Bake
Spread the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, then bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the bars are set and golden brown on the edges.
6. Cool
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Then, carefully remove the bars from the pan and place them on a large cutting board.
7. Make the Frosting
Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, then beat in the orange extract.
8. Frost and Cut
Spread the frosting onto the cooled bars. Drizzle with the melted almond bark and sprinkle the chopped Craisins on top. Once the frosting has set, cut the bars into triangles.
FAQ
Are Cranberry Bliss Bars seasonal?
They are! Starbucks only sells them in November and December. When you know how to make them at home, you can enjoy them year-round!
Can Cranberry Bliss Bars be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze Cranberry Bliss Bars for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then enjoy!
What’s in the Cranberry Bliss Bar?
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a little bit like a thinner version of a blondie with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips inside and a cream cheese frosting. They also have orange extract to amp up the flavor!
How to Store Cranberry Bliss Bars
With the cream cheese frosting, you’ll need to keep your bars in the fridge. Place them in an airtight storage container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days.
More Holiday Treats for Gifting
- No-Bake Christmas Crunch Cookies
- Christmas Crack – Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Peanut Butter and Chocolate Buckeyes
- Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
- Christmas M&M Cookies
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients
- Bars:
- 1 cup butter melted
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup Craisins
- Frosting and Topping:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/3 cup Craisins roughly chopped
- 2 squares of almond bark melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13×9 pan with parchment paper and spray with non stick baking spray.
- Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and ginger into a bowl. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, beat together melted butter and brown sugar over medium speed
- Next, add in eggs one at a time while mixing.
- Add orange extract, and vanilla extract and beat until mixed well.
- Then, add in the flour mixture ½ cup at a time, beating until just blended.
- Stir in white chocolate chips and Craisins by hand.
- Spread evenly into the bottom of prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges.
- Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool.
- Allow bars to cool completely before.
- Once the bars are cool, remove from the pan and add to a large cutting board.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add orange extract and mix well.
- Top the bars with the frosting – spreading to the edges.
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate and top with chopped craisins.
- Allow the frosting to set and then cut into triangles.
