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Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

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4.5 from 121 reviews

These Tasty Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars combine a rich, buttery blondie base with tart dried cranberries, chunks of creamy white chocolate, and a luscious cream cheese frosting flavored with orange zest and juice. Topped with extra cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle, these bars deliver a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, making them an irresistible treat for the holiday season or any time you crave a festive dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Blondie Layer

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (7.5 oz)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 12 tbsp unsalted butter (6 oz)
  • 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10.5 oz)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp grated orange zest
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries (3.5 oz, loosely packed)
  • 1 1/3 cups white chocolate, chopped or chips (8 oz)

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (6 oz)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tsp orange zest, finely grated
  • 2/3 cup white chocolate, melted (4 oz)

Topping

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped (2.3 oz, loosely packed)
  • 1 2/3 cups white chocolate, melted (10 oz)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper leaving an overhang. Spray the parchment again to prevent sticking.
  2. Brown the Butter: In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter, stirring frequently. Let it foam and the milk solids at the bottom turn golden brown. Remove from heat immediately and pour into a bowl, scraping in the browned bits. Cool completely.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk browned butter and light brown sugar until combined. Add beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and orange zest; stir until smooth.
  5. Combine Batter: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a rubber spatula until just combined. Then fold in white chocolate and dried cranberries. Spread evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  6. Bake Blondies: Bake for 18-22 minutes until edges are golden and top is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  7. Prepare Frosting: Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, orange juice, and orange zest until fluffy and smooth.
  8. Frost Blondies: Once blondies are completely cool, spread frosting evenly over the top. Chill about 10 minutes if desired for easier decorating.
  9. Add Toppings: Sprinkle chopped dried cranberries evenly over frosting. Drizzle melted white chocolate decoratively using a small zip-top bag with a cut corner.
  10. Set and Slice: Refrigerate until frosting and drizzle are firm. Use parchment overhang to lift bars out of the pan. Cut into desired shapes and serve.
  11. Storage: Store blondies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Browning the butter intensifies the flavor and adds a nutty richness to the blondies.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the blondies tender and soft.
  • Use parchment paper with an overhang for easy removal of the bars after baking.
  • Chilling the bars after frosting makes drizzling the white chocolate easier and creates clean, sharp lines.
  • Store bars refrigerated to keep the cream cheese frosting fresh and the white chocolate drizzle firm.

Keywords: Starbucks copycat, cranberry bliss bars, white chocolate blondies, cranberry dessert bars, holiday dessert, cream cheese frosting, white chocolate drizzle

Find it online: https://annakocht.com/starbucks-copycat-cranberry-bliss-bars-recipe/