If you’re a fan of Starbucks, you’ve probably tried their delicious Cranberry Bliss Bars. These sweet and festive treats are the perfect addition to your holiday menu. But with this copycat cranberry bliss bar recipe, you can enjoy them year-round.
What are Cranberry Bliss Bars?
Cranberry Bliss Bars are a seasonal treat offered by Starbucks during the holiday season. They are a soft and moist blondie-like bar filled with sweet white chocolate chips and tart cranberries and topped with a cream cheese frosting. The Starbucks bliss bars are typically enjoyed during the winter and holiday season. They are a popular menu item at Starbucks and have gained a loyal following among fans of the coffee chain.
How Long Has Starbucks Served Them?
According to Starbucks, the Cranberry Bliss Bar was first introduced to their menu in 2004. It quickly became a fan favorite and has remained a staple on the Starbucks holiday menu ever since. The bars are often associated with the holiday season and have become a popular choice for those looking to add a little bit of cheer to their menu during the colder months.
Why are Cranberry Bliss Bars So Popular?
For starters, they’re incredibly flavorful. The combination of sweet white chocolate chips and tart cranberries creates a perfect balance of flavors in every bite. The cranberries add a burst of tartness that pairs perfectly with the sweet white chocolate, while the blondie-like base of the bar adds a rich, buttery flavor and a chewy texture.
But the real star of the show is the creamy cream cheese frosting that tops these bars. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this frosting is smooth, creamy, and oh-so-delicious. It adds a tangy element to the bars that perfectly complements the sweet and tart flavors of the white chocolate and cranberries.
One of the things that make Cranberry Bliss Bars so popular is their festive appearance. With their bright red cranberries and creamy white frosting, these bars are a true holiday showstopper. The red and the white color are really striking. I also love that they have the extra white chocolate drizzle on the top. They are really pretty bars and do look really festive for the holidays. They’re the perfect addition to any holiday party or gathering and are sure to be a hit with friends and family.
How to Decorate the Bars
To decorate the bars, you will add frosting and toppings. Once the bars are completely cooled, you can add the cream cheese frosting. Then, you can top them with dried cranberries and the white chocolate drizzle. To create a white chocolate drizzle, you will need white chocolate chips or a white chocolate bar, a microwave-safe bowl, a microwave, a spoon, and a zip-top bag. Place the white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate bar in the microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. If the chocolate is too thick to drizzle, add a small amount of vegetable oil or shortening, a little bit at a time until the chocolate reaches the desired consistency. Add the melted chocolate to a zip-top bag. Cut a tiny corner of the bag and drizzle over the bars.
Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar Recipe
There’s a good reason why these bars continue to be a fan-favorite after all these years. But you don’t have to wait until next holiday season to enjoy the bars, you can make them right at home. With this recipe for Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, you can enjoy these delicious treats anytime you’d like. Here’s the complete recipe. I can’t wait to hear how they turn out. Leave me a comment and let me know!
Cranberry Bliss Bars Copycat Starbucks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- 1/2 c. dried cranberries
- 2/3 c. white chocolate chips
- Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1 c. white chocolate chips, melted
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. orange juice
- 1 tsp. orange zest
- Topping:
- 1/2 c. dried cranberries
- 4 oz. white chocolate baking bar, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out of the pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan.
- While the bars are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Add the melted white chocolate and beat until smooth.
- Once the bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting over the top.
- Sprinkle additional cranberries over the frosting and add white chocolate drizzle.
- Cut the bars into triangles and serve. These Cranberry Bliss Bars are best when served the same day they are made, but they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ingredients:
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest
1/2 c. dried cranberries
2/3 c. white chocolate chips
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 c. white chocolate chips, melted
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. orange juice
1 tsp. orange zest
Topping:
1/2 c. dried cranberries
4 oz. white chocolate baking bar, melted
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out of the pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
- Next, transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan.
- While the bars are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, orange juice, and vanilla extract and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Add the melted white chocolate and beat until smooth.
- Once the bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting over the top.
- Sprinkle additional cranberries over the frosting and add white chocolate drizzle.
- Cut the bars into triangles and serve. These Cranberry Bliss Bars are best when served the same day they are made, but they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
These Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are sure to be a hit with your friends and family. Whether you’re enjoying them as a sweet treat during the holiday season or any time of year, I know your family will love them as much as mine did. Happy baking!
If you’re looking for other holiday baking recipes, click here. For brownies, click here.