5 from 128 votes
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cranberry Bliss Bars are blondie-style bars combining a brown sugar and orange-zested base with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a cream cheese frosting and additional dried cranberries. The bars balance sweetness with a tart fruit element and a creamy finish, offering a rich dessert for festive occasions or dessert trays.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
30 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 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
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
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%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24 bars
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.