Cranberry Bliss Bar Clone #1
Cuisine: American
Author: Cookie Madness
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 24 mins
Total time: 34 mins
A bar cookie recipe similar to the Cranberry Bliss Bars sold at Starbucks
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks (8 ounces) butter, softened **
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract (or vanilla)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3/4 cup Craisins (dried cranberries)
  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • FROSTING
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 1/2 -- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract (or vanilla)
  • TOPPING
  • 1/3 cup craisins, chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoon grated orange rind
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 inch or 15x10 inch metal pan with parchment paper or Release foil.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy; add eggs and extract (I used vanilla) and beat until combined.
  3. Add the flour, baking powder, and ginger and stir until mixed, then add the cranberries and chips, stirring just to blend and being careful not to over-mix.
  4. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake 350 (23-24 minutes for 10x15, 27 minutes for 9x13), until the edges are light brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Let it cool completely.
  5. Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add extract (again, used vanilla) and confectioner’s sugar and beat until frosting is fluffy and spreadable (adding 1 t. milk if needed). Spread evenly over cooled bars.
  6. Garnish: Use a zester to remove rind from an orange. Chop 1/3 cup Craisins coarsely. Sprinkle this garnish of orange zest and Craisins over frosted bars.
  7. For the final topping, mix white chocolate and oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave 50% power for 1 minute; stir. Repeat 1 more minute at 50% power; stir. Use a fork to drizzle the white chocolate in thin diagonal strips across the bars (I didn’t use fork).
  8. Allow one hour for the white chocolate to set before cutting. **To make signature Starbuck triangles, cut jelly roll pan into 20 large squares
Notes
This recipe is adapted from on one Recipezaar. ** I used unsalted butter and didn’t add any extra salt. The bars were still okay, but I think they would have been better if I’d added a pinch of salt.
Recipe by Cookie Madness at http://www.cookiemadness.net/2008/10/cranberry-bliss-bar-clone-1/