Cranberry Bliss Bars
User Reviews
5
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Description
Cranberry Bliss Bars start with a blondie batter made from brown sugar massaged with orange zest, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract, combined with flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Dried cranberries and white chocolate chips are folded into the batter before baking. The result is a moist blondie with tender crumb, accented by the sweetness of white chocolate and tartness of cranberries.
Once baked and cooled, the bars are topped with a creamy frosting made from softened cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. This frosting adds a rich, smooth layer that complements the chewy bars beneath. Additional chopped dried cranberries and optional orange zest garnish the top, enhancing flavor and appearance.
The bars are baked in a parchment-lined pan for easy removal and are suited for holiday desserts or gatherings where a flavorful yet unique bar is desired. The combination of ginger and orange zest adds warmth and brightness to the sweet and tart components.
Ingredients
For Blondie Base:
- 1 ½ packed cups light brown sugar packed
- 1 orange zested
- 2 ticks butter melted, unsalted
- 2 egg 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 Cranberry sweetened, dried
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
For Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Topping:
- ½ cup Cranberry chopped, sweetened, dried
- 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
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 278 kcal
% 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.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
