Cranberry Bliss Bars
User Reviews
4.7
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars start with a blondie batter made by creaming melted butter with brown sugar, eggs, and orange and vanilla extracts. A flour mixture containing baking powder, ginger, and salt is combined into the wet ingredients, then white chocolate chips and dried cranberries are folded in, adding bursts of sweetness and tartness.
Once baked until set, the bars have a moist, tender crumb with specks of fruit and mild spice from the ginger. The cream cheese frosting, mixed with powdered sugar and flavor extracts, adds a rich, tangy layer. Sprinkled chopped dried cranberries and drizzled almond bark or melted white chocolate finish the bars with texture contrast and decorative sweetness.
The bars are cooled completely before frosting to maintain a stable topping. This multi-layer treat is suitable for festive occasions or a special dessert.
Ingredients
Blondie Layer:
- 1 cup butter salted, melted
- 1 1/2 /2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 2 egg large
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 /4 cup dried cranberries
Frosting:
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 /2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 /2 cup dried cranberries coarsely chopped
- 2 ounces almond bark or white chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
- Prepare the blondie layer: In a large bowl, cream together the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix in the eggs, 1 teaspoon orange extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Gently stir in the white chocolate chips and cranberries (batter will be thick).
- Spread the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Mix in the orange and vanilla extract. Frost cooled blondies with an even layer. Sprinkle with chopped cranberries. Drizzle almond bark on top with a fork. Let the frosting set (speed this up by throwing them into the fridge) then cut into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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