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Cranberry Bliss Bars
4.7 from 60 votes

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cranberry Bliss Bars are baked blondies flavored with orange and vanilla extracts, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries. After baking and cooling, they’re topped with a cream cheese frosting accented with orange and vanilla, more dried cranberries, and a drizzle of melted almond bark or white chocolate. This creates a textured, sweet bar balancing tartness, creaminess, and soft cake-like crumb.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.