Starbucks cranberry bliss bars are a beloved treat during the holiday season. This easy-to-make copycat recipe, boasting a medley of flavors including vanilla, white chocolate, cranberries, orange, and more, perfectly captures the festive spirit. The homemade blondies, topped with cream cheese frosting, strike a delightful balance between sweet and tangy notes, mirroring the experience of indulging in these treats at your favorite coffee shop. This chewy, buttery bar is an ideal accompaniment to a warm cup of hot chocolate or as part of a Christmas cookie spread. While some may find the original Starbucks cranberry bliss bars too sweet, this DIY recipe offers a more balanced approach by incorporating the white chocolate drizzle only on top, elevating these treats to new heights. This Starbucks copycat recipe is sure to get you in the holiday spirit and make for a wonderful addition to your festive celebrations.
How to Make Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
To craft these indulgent white chocolate cranberry bars, start by melting the butter before combining it with an egg, sugar, and vanilla extract. Next, add flour, fresh or frozen cranberries, and a hint of orange zest to the mixture, stirring until just combined. Pour this batter into a pan and bake until golden. While the bars are baking and cooling, prepare the topping by blending melted white chocolate chips, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Once the bars have cooled, spread the frosting over them, followed by a sprinkle of cranberries and white chocolate chips. The pièce de résistance is a drizzle of additional melted white chocolate, adding another layer of sweetness and visual appeal. Don’t worry about precision – a playful pattern will suffice! These sweet treats boast a buttery blondie base and a rich cream cheese frosting, perfect for pairing with a warm cup of coffee or eggnog during the holiday season. Cut your bars into triangles, squares, or shapes that suit your fancy, yielding 8-12 pieces depending on their size. For an authentic touch, I like to emulate Starbucks’ style by cutting mine into triangular portions.
What Kind of Cranberries to Use
For these DIY cranberry blondies with cream cheese icing, feel free to use any type of dried cranberries. You can opt for sweetened varieties like Craisins, which offer a boost of vitamins and minerals along with a hint of sweetness. Alternatively, choose unsweetened options if you prefer a tangier flavor profile in your homemade bliss bars. Both types provide an impressive array of essential nutrients. While Craisins do contain more sugar than their unsweetened counterparts, this can be a concern for those watching their sugar intake.
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Variations
While you can make adjustments like substituting Craisins for dried cranberries or orange extract for zest, feel free to take creative liberties and transform this recipe into your own unique copycat version. Consider replacing white chocolate with milk chocolate or swapping cranberries for dried cherries or raisins. You could even top the bars with almond bark instead of the traditional drizzle. For a gluten-free twist, try using gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose flour.
Experimenting with new add-ins can elevate this recipe’s flavor profile. A pinch of ground ginger might be an excellent addition, while green food coloring could give the bars a festive touch for the holiday season. Ultimately, don’t be afraid to put your own spin on this easy cranberry bar recipe.
How to Store White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
Store the baked goods in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated for up to five days. If you prefer to freeze them, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, allowing for a couple of months’ storage. This way, you can enjoy your homemade treats for a longer period.If you’re craving a festive treat reminiscent of Starbucks’ cranberry bliss cookie bars, look no further than these DIY cranberry blondies with cream cheese icing. You won’t need to venture out to the coffee shop when you can create your own copycat recipe at home, allowing you to indulge in the sweet and tangy goodness without breaking the bank.
Cranberry Bliss Bars FAQs
While Cranberry Bliss Bars can certainly thrive in the freezer, their true value lies in being a delightful treat during the holiday season. To ensure they remain fresh, store them in an airtight container at 0°F (-18°C) for up to two months. As for making these scrumptious bars gluten-free, it’s surprisingly simple: just substitute all-purpose flour with your preferred gluten-free option. I recommend Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 flour for optimal results. However, if you find your Cranberry Bliss Bars are lacking moisture, there’s a good chance they’ve been overbaked. Double-check your oven temperature using an oven thermometer to avoid this common issue.
Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe
Cranberry Bliss Bars
For many, Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars are a beloved seasonal delight. But what if you could recreate the magic at home? This copycat recipe brings together the flavors of white chocolate and cranberries to create a sweet and tangy blondie that’s perfect for your DIY holiday baking endeavors. With only 20 minutes of prep time, 20 minutes of cook time, and a total of 40 minutes from start to finish, you can easily whip up a batch of these tasty treats for yourself or as a gift for friends and family. And the best part? You’ll be enjoying them in just 8 scrumptious servings!
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare an 8×8 inch baking pan by spraying it with cooking spray. In the microwave, melt the butter for about 90 seconds, then let it cool for a minute before whisking together with the egg, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined. Fold in half a cup of cranberries and orange zest, stirring to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top if necessary. Bake for 18-21 minutes, or until the bars are cooked through. Allow them to cool before frosting. To create the topping, melt white chocolate in the microwave in 10-second increments, stirring between each interval, until smooth. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, about two-thirds of the melted white chocolate, 2 cups of icing sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy, adding more icing sugar if needed. Frost the cooled bars, then evenly sprinkle cranberries and unmelted white chocolate chips over the top. Drizzle with the remaining melted white chocolate, reheating in the microwave if necessary.
Notes
This recipe yields a generous batch of 8-12 servings, depending on the size of your cuts.