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Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 143 reviews

Cranberry Bliss Bars are a delightful treat combining a soft, buttery base studded with dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and a hint of orange zest, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and more dried cranberries for garnish. Perfect for festive occasions or a cozy dessert, these bars offer a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors with a creamy finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Bar Batter

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries, chopped
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • Zest of 1 orange

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness.
  6. Incorporate Cranberries, Chocolate, and Zest: Fold in the chopped dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and orange zest until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  7. Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool Bars: Once baked, remove from oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare Frosting: While the bars cool, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl until creamy.
  10. Add Powdered Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until well combined and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
  11. Frost the Bars: Once the cranberry bars have completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
  12. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries over the frosting for garnish. Cut into squares or bars, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Make sure the bars are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
  • If you prefer, you can substitute chopped white chocolate chunks with chips.
  • For extra zestiness, add a little more orange zest to the batter or frosting.
  • Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • These bars can be frozen without frosting; frost after thawing for best results.

Keywords: cranberry bliss bars, cranberry dessert bars, white chocolate cranberry bars, cream cheese frosting bars, holiday dessert bars

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/cranberry-bliss-bars-recipe/