Cranberry Bliss Bars

You know that I love treats that are both delicious and lovely to look at - and so I couldn't resist these bars. Supposedly, these are a Starbuck's knock-off, but I don't know anything about the Starbucks version. What I can tell you is that these are very yummy. Blondies laced with cranberries and white chocolate chips are frosted with an orange-infused cream cheese frosting and then topped with more cranberries and white chocolate! These would be perfect with coffee, which explains why they are a big hit at Starbucks.

Start by creaming together the butter and brown sugar.

Then add the vanilla, orange zest and eggs and beat until combined. Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ginger.

Beat again until smooth, then stir in the cranberries

and white chocolate chips.

Spread into a greased jelly roll pan.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.

Let the bars cool. While they do, you can make the frosting. Combine the cream cheese, vanilla, butter and orange juice and mix until smooth.

Add in the powdered sugar and beat until combined. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars, then top with the cranberries.

Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power in 30 second intervals until melted, then stir until smooth. Drizzle the white chocolate over the bars.

Merry, merry!

One year ago: Caramel Chocolate Fudge
Two years ago: Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzels
Three years ago: Caramel Chomeur

Find more great ideas at Mangia Monday, Mop it Up Monday, Mix it Up Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Recipe Sharing Monday, On the Menu Monday, Sweet Treats and Swanky Stuff, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday at the Table, Tasty Tuesday (#2), Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Tasteful Tuesday, Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Clever Chicks.

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Bars:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. orange zest
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 Tbsp. orange juice

Topping:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and orange zest and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger and salt. Add to wet mixture and beat until combined. Stir in dried cranberries and chips.

Spread onto a greased 10x15 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-24 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Do not overbake. Let cool completely.

For frosting, cream together cream cheese & butter. Add vanilla extract, orange juice and salt. Beat in confectioners sugar until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled bars.

For topping, sprinkle cranberries over the top of the frosting. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power and stir until smooth. Drizzle over the bars.

Cut into 16 rectangles (4 rows, 4 columns) then cut each rectangle diagonally for a total of 32 pieces.

Recipe Source: Simple Girl at Home