Holiday Treat
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Starbucks’ cranberry bliss bars. It’s kind of like the famous Lay’s slogan “I bet you can’t eat just one”.
Want to know what’s better than buying one (or a box) of their bars? Making your own for a fraction of the price (and in just a little bit of time).
Recipe
Blondies
1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter
⅔ cup (113 g) white chocolate chips
1¾ cups (350 g) light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 large egg yolk, room temperature
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange zest
2½ cups (312.5 g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup (160 g) dried cranberries
Frosting
1 cup (160 g) white chocolate chips, melted and divided
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
¾ cup (94 g) confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest
½ cup (65 g) dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
Blondies
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, including up the sides. Set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and the white chocolate chips. Melt in 20-second intervals, stirring in between each time, until the mixture is creamy with no lumps (about 1-2 minutes total). Allow to slightly cool.
To the melted white chocolate mixture, add brown sugar. Stir to combine.
Add the eggs and the egg yolk, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
Stir in the vanilla extract and the orange zest. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and ginger.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until completely combined. Fold in the dried cranberries.
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before topping with frosting.
Frosting
Add the white chocolate chips to a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Set aside.
In a large bowl using a hand mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar together until smooth.
Gradually pour HALF of the melted white chocolate into the cream cheese mixture, reserving the other half for drizzling on top of the bars. Continue to mix until fully incorporated.
Add the orange zest and stir to combine.
Spread the frosting over the cooled blondies.
Sprinkle the dried cranberries over the frosting. Drizzle the remaining melted white chocolate over the bars. Enjoy!
