This Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe tastes just like the popular seasonal treat at Starbucks with a blondie bar base, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, a hint of orange, and cream cheese frosting.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that it hangs over all 4 sides.
Whisk together the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Stir in the flour and salt, and then stir in the white chocolate chips and craisins.
Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Bake until the bar cookies are golden along the outside, but still look a little gooey in the middle, about 20 to 23 minutes, being careful not to over-bake.
Cool to room temperature before frosting.
For the Frosting:
Once the bars are cooled, make the frosting.
Add all frosting ingredients to a large bowl and use a handheld electric mixer to beat together until smooth.
To Assemble:
Spread the frosting evenly on the cooled bars.
For the topping, add the white chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second increments until melted and smooth, stirring in between each increment. Drizzle this mixture onto the frosted bars.
Immediately sprinkle on the craisins and the sparkling sugar if using.
Let the frosting set before cutting and serving.
Notes
Storage: Once the frosting is set, store these bars layered between pieces of parchment paper in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Topping: Instead of the white chocolate chips and coconut oil, you can use 1 ounce of chopped white almond bark.
Serving Size: These bars are very rich and decadent! If you want, you can cut each triangle in half to get 16 servings instead of 8.