Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars long after the holiday season has passed, you’re not alone. These chewy blondie bars, packed with tart cranberries and white chocolate, all topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting, are a seasonal favorite for a reason.

This copycat recipe brings that beloved coffee shop treat right into your own kitchen. Now you can enjoy the perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors whenever the craving strikes, not just during the holidays. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to bake a batch that tastes even better than the original.

Why This Recipe Works

Making Cranberry Bliss Bars at home has some serious perks. Not only is it more cost-effective than buying them one by one, but you also have complete control over the quality of the ingredients. This means you can use high-quality butter, real vanilla extract, and fresh orange zest to create a bar with a richer, more complex flavor.

The magic of these bars lies in a few key ingredients:

• Brown Sugar: This is the foundation of the blondie base, providing moisture and a deep, caramel-like sweetness that you just can’t get from white sugar alone.
• Melted Butter: Using melted butter instead of softened butter creates a denser, chewier texture that is characteristic of a great blondie.
• Orange Zest: A hint of fresh orange zest in both the frosting and the batter brightens up the flavors and provides a beautiful contrast to the sweet white chocolate.
• Ground Ginger: This secret ingredient adds a subtle warmth and spice that elevates the bars from simply sweet to truly blissful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here is a detailed list of everything you’ll need to create your own Cranberry Bliss Bars. Using good-quality ingredients will make a noticeable difference in the final taste and texture.

For the Blondie Bars:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• ¾ cup dried cranberries

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon orange zest

For the Topping:

• ¼ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
• 2 ounces white chocolate, for drizzling

Ingredient Notes:

• Butter: We recommend using unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the recipe. If you only have salted butter, reduce the added salt to ⅛ teaspoon.
• White Chocolate: Choose a good-quality white chocolate for both the chips and the drizzle. It will melt more smoothly and have a better flavor.
• Cranberries: Standard dried cranberries work perfectly, but feel free to experiment with other dried fruits like cherries or apricots for a different twist.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to bake a perfect batch of Cranberry Bliss Bars.

1. Prepare the Batter

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until they are well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and orange zest.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and ground ginger. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Finally, fold in the white chocolate chips and ¾ cup of dried cranberries.

2. Bake the Bars

Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached. The center should be set but still soft. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

3. Make the Frosting

While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until it’s incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract and orange zest.

4. Frost and Garnish

Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Sprinkle the ¼ cup of finely chopped dried cranberries over the frosting.

For the drizzle, melt the 2 ounces of white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth. You can also use a double boiler. Transfer the melted chocolate to a small plastic bag, snip off a tiny corner, and drizzle it back and forth over the bars.

5. Chill and Serve

Place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the frosting and drizzle to set. Once firm, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut them into triangles, just like Starbucks does, or into traditional squares.

Recommended Baking Tools

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Having the right tools can make the baking process much smoother. Here are a few Amazon product recommendations that are perfect for this recipe:

• Baking Pan: A sturdy USA Pan 9 x 13-Inch Rectangular Cake Pan ensures even baking and its nonstick surface makes for easy cleanup.
• Electric Mixer: A reliable hand mixer like the KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer is perfect for making the frosting light and fluffy.
• Mixing Bowls: This set of Pyrex Smart Essentials Mixing Bowls is great because they are durable, versatile, and come in different sizes.
• Parchment Paper: Using Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Paper with gridlines makes it easy to cut evenly sized bars.

Serving and Storage Tips

These Cranberry Bliss Bars are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or just as a special treat with your afternoon coffee.

To store them, place the bars in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Because of the cream cheese frosting, it’s important to keep them chilled. You can serve them straight from the fridge or let them sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving to soften slightly.

Read More: Easy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Time to Get Baking

This copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe is the perfect way to bring a little extra sweetness into your home. With a chewy blondie base, a tangy cream cheese frosting, and the festive touch of cranberries and white chocolate, these bars are sure to become a new favorite.

Give this recipe a try and see for yourself how easy it is to create a coffee shop classic at home. We’d love to see your creations, so feel free to share a photo and tag us on social media!