Cranberry Bliss Bars (Lightened Up)
User Reviews
5
Cranberry Bliss Bars (Lightened Up)
Description
This recipe for Cranberry Bliss Bars (Lightened Up) starts with a blondie base made from a mixture of light butter, alternative sweeteners, vanilla and orange extracts, egg, and unsweetened applesauce. The inclusion of vanilla protein powder enhances texture and adds subtle body. Dried cranberries and white chocolate chips fold into the batter, contributing bursts of tartness and creamy sweetness respectively.
The batter is baked in an 8x8 inch pan until mostly set, yielding bars with a tender but sturdy crumb that are moist from the applesauce. Cooling the bars fully and refrigerating before frosting helps the texture set up for spreading. The cream cheese frosting adds a smooth, tangy layer that complements the cranberries. Additional dried cranberries and white chocolate drizzle atop the frosting intensify the flavors without making the bars overly rich.
These bars are suitable for serving as a snack or dessert where a lighter sweetness is desired along with some chewiness from the cranberries and creaminess from the frosting. The combination of fruit, protein powder, and lower fat ingredients offers a balance of taste and texture that differs from denser traditional blondies.
Ingredients
Blondies:
- 1/4 cup butter light, 56g
- 1/4 cup brown sugar Swerve brand, 48g
- 1/4 cup granular sweetener Swerve brand, 48g
- 1 tsp vanilla extract pure
- 1/2 tsp orange extract
- 1 egg large
- 1/2 cup applesauce unsweetened, (122g
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 120g
- 2 Tbsp vanilla protein powder 15g
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries 40g
- 2 Tbsp white chocolate chips 28g
Topping:
- 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting whipped, 96g
- 2 Tbsp dried cranberries 20g
- 1 Tbsp white chocolate chips 14g
- 1/4 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8" baking dish with parchment paper and/or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), add the butter, brown sugar, sweetener, vanilla, orange extract, egg, and applesauce. Mix on medium-high speed until combined; then add the flour and protein powder and mix on low just until the dry ingredients are combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
- Pour batter into the prepared dish and even out so the top is smooth. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let the bars cool to room temperature then place in the fridge for an hour or until ready to frost.
- When ready, spread the frosting evenly over top and sprinkle with the remaining dried cranberries.
- Microwave the white chocolate chips and coconut oil in 20-30 second increments until melted. Drizzle the white chocolate over top of the bars.
- Place in the freezer for 10 minutes for the chocolate to harden, then keep stored in the fridge, covered, until ready to eat.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 102 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bar (39g) | |
| Calories | 102kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 14.5g | 5% |
| Protein | 2.1g | 4% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.8g | 9% |
| Fiber | 0.5g | 2% |
| Sugar | 8.1g | 16% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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