5.0 from 225 votes
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cranberry Bliss Bars have a thick and chewy blondie base with a pop of orange zest and dried cranberries, topped with creamy frosting. So good!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Resting time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 278 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For Blondie Base:
- 1 ½ packed cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 orange zested
- 2 ticks unsalted butter melted
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
For Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Topping:
- ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries chopped
- orange zest if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little excess on all four sides to easily remove the blondies once baked.
- To make the blondies, add brown sugar to a large bowl. Add orange zest and massage the zest into the sugar with your fingers until it is very fragrant. Whisk in melted butter until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then whisk in vanilla extract.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Use a rubber spatula to fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no streaks of flour remain. Fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate, then scrape batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are slightly brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Set aside to cool for about 20 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the blondies have cooled completely, make the frosting. Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Spread the frosting all over the cooled blondies in an even layer. Add chopped cranberries on top and orange zest, if desired. Set in the fridge to cool for about 1 hour, then cut into 24 even triangles and serve
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
278kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
43g
(14%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
16g
(25%)
Saturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0.4g
Cholesterol
50mg
(17%)
Sodium
94mg
(4%)
Potassium
77mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
24g
(48%)
Vitamin A
444IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
0.4mg
(0%)
Calcium
44mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 278
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 278kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 43g | 14% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 50mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 94mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 77mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 444IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 44mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.