These Cranberry Bliss Bars are my homemade version of the popular Starbucks holiday favorite. They start with a soft, chewy white chocolate and cranberry blondie base, topped with a thick swoop of cream cheese frosting, dried cranberries, sliced almonds and a white chocolate drizzle. Skip the drive-thru lineup and make the iconic cranberry bliss bars recipe at home, all year round instead!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe For Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe Variations
- How To Make Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Expert Tips For The Best Cranberry Bliss Bars
- How To Store & Freeze Bliss Bars
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Festive Holiday Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- ⭐️ Leave a Review
Planning a full holiday dessert spread? I've got you covered! Pair these cranberry bliss bars with a batch of my Christmas crack, whipped shortbread cookies, classic cream cheese mints, candy cane bark, and strawberry Nutella cheesecakes, because one holiday dessert is never quite enough!
Why You'll Love This Recipe For Cranberry Bliss Bars
- A true Starbucks copycat. These cranberry bliss bars have the whole package, white chocolate, cranberries, and cream cheese frosting, without having to wait for the seasonal drop!
- They look like they came straight out of a bakery. The white chocolate drizzle, sliced almonds (an addition of my own), and extra cranberries on top make these bars look truly amazing and professional.
- Great for cookie exchanges and holiday parties. Slice them into classic triangles and wow everyone with how pretty they are and how delicious they taste.
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Dried Cranberries: Dried cranberries, like Craisins, work the best. Fresh cranberries can not be substituted, because they would add too much moisture to the bars.
- White Chocolate: Any kind of white chocolate works. White chocolate chips are what I use. You could also use a white chocolate bar chopped into chunks.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: I use my standard cream cheese frosting recipe with a bit of orange zest added to bring the classic holiday flavors.
- Orange Zest: This is an optional ingredient, but it is in the Starbucks original and gives the bliss bars their signature flavor.
Head down to the recipe card below for exact quantities.
Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe Variations
- Top with Different Nuts: Sliced almonds are not classic to the Starbucks version, but I think they make an incredible addition. Instead of sliced almonds, you could use chopped roasted almonds, chopped honey roasted cashews, pistachios, or chopped pecans. Another option is leaving the nuts off entirely to make an exact match to the Starbucks version.
- Different Dried Fruit: Instead of dried cranberries, dried cherries, or raisins can be used, or you can use a combination of any dried fruit you have on hand.
If you like blondie recipes, you have to try my lemon blondies, too!
How To Make Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars
Whisk The Dry
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and remaining dry ingredients.
Start The Blondie Batter
In a separate large mixing bowl, start by whisking together the butter and brown sugar until smooth, then add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and eggs, whisking until velvety smooth.
Complete The Blondie Batter
Using a wooden spoon, stir in the dry ingredients until they are fully incorporated, then fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
Spread The Batter
Spread the batter into the bottom of a lined and greased 9x13-inch baking pan.
Bake The Blondies
Bake until the edges are golden brown and the center is just set. Avoid overbaking to keep the blondie base soft and chewy. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
Make The Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
While the bars are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting by blending together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest with a hand mixer until it is smooth and creamy.
💡Tutorial
See my full cream cheese buttercream tutorial for more tips and tricks on making smooth frosting.
Add all the toppings
Once the bars have cooled completely, spread the prepared orange cream cheese frosting on top. Sprinkle with chopped dried cranberries and sliced almonds, then finish by drizzling melted white chocolate all over the top.
Slice & Serve
Refrigerate the bars until the frosting is firm and the chocolate drizzle has set. Using a sharp knife, cut the bars into 12 squares, then cut each square diagonally into the classic triangle shape for a total of 24 bars.
Expert Tips For The Best Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Don't overbake the bars. Pull the bliss bars out of the oven when the edges are set and the center looks just done but not completely firm. The bars will finish cooking as they cool in the pan.
- Let the bars cool completely before adding the frosting and toppings. If the bars are warm, the frosting will melt and turn soupy.
- Chill the bliss bars whole before cutting for crisp cuts. Let the cranberry bliss bars set completely in the fridge before using a sharp knife to cut the bars into their classic triangles. Wipe the knife between cuts to keep it clean.
How To Store & Freeze Bliss Bars
Store leftover cranberry bliss bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. For freezing, freeze the bars in a single layer until completely frozen, then transfer them to an airtight container or ziplock bag and store for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a blondie-style bar with white chocolate and dried cranberries, topped with cream cheese frosting, more cranberries and a melted white chocolate drizzle.
Yes! They typically release them for just a short time at the beginning of November as a part of their holiday menu.
This is often a sign that the bars were overbaked or the flour was measured incorrectly.
This can happen if the cream cheese or butter was too warm, or if you used a tub-style cream cheese. To bring it back together, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes before mixing in more powdered sugar, a little at a time, until the frosting is thick and creamy.
More Festive Holiday Recipes
If you love yummy and delicious holiday baking, you have to try these recipes too:
If you made these Cranberry Bliss Bars or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ cups All Purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 ¼ cups Brown Sugar
- ¾ cup Butter melted
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- ¾ cup Dried Cranberries chopped
- ¾ cup White Chocolate Chips
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- ¼ cup Butter softened
- 2 ¼ cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons Orange Zest optional, but recommended
- 1-2 Tablespoons Milk
White Chocolate Drizzle & Toppings
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberries chopped
- ¼ cup Sliced Almonds optional
- ⅓ cup White Chocolate Chips melted
- 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil to thin chocolate, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a square 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the surface with a tiny bit of melted butter or cooking spray.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and kosher salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add the brown sugar and melted butter, whisking until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and whisk vigorously until the batter is smooth and velvety looking. Add the dry ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon until just combined. Fold in the chopped cranberries and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out in an even layer so it reaches all corners. Bake for 20-22 minutes until golden brown and still slightly soft in the center, do not overbake. Leave the bars in the baking pan to cool completely.
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting by beating the softened cream cheese with the butter until it is smooth and there are no lumps remaining. Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, and mix until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla exract, orange zest, and remaining powdered sugar, mixing again until light and fluffy. Add milk, if necessary, to thin the frosting to a spreadable consistency.
- After the bars are fully cooled, spread the prepared frosting on top of the bars in a thick, even layer. Sprinkle the remaining chopped cranberries and sliced almonds on top. Then melt the white chocolate with the coconut oil in the microwave in 15 second bursts until it is smooth. Transfer to a plastic bag with the corner snipped, or simply use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate all over the bars. Transfer the bars to the refrigerator until the frosting is firm and the chocolate has set.
- To cut the bars, use a sharp knife to cut 12 equal sized squares, then cut each square in half diagonally for a total of 24 cranberry bliss bars. Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
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Notes
- Dried Cranberries: You cannot use fresh cranberries as a substitute in this recipe. If you don't have dried cranberries, you could also use raisins or dried cherries.
- Store: Store bliss bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
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