Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Cranberry bliss bars bring together white chocolate, dried cranberries, and cream cheese frosting to create a dessert that tastes like the holidays. These bars have a soft, chewy texture with bursts of tart cranberries and sweet white chocolate in every bite. The cream cheese frosting adds a tangy finish that balances the sweetness perfectly.

I’ve made these bars countless times during the holiday season, and they disappear faster than any other dessert I serve. The combination of flavors reminds me of festive gatherings and cold winter evenings. What makes these bars special is how they look as impressive as they taste, with their white chocolate drizzle and bright red cranberries on top.

You don’t need advanced baking skills to make these bars. The process is straightforward, and the results always impress guests. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, gifting to neighbors, or simply treating your family, these bars deliver that special something that makes the season brighter.

Reasons to Try Cranberry Bliss Bars

These bars offer the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. The dried cranberries provide a chewy texture and bright flavor that cuts through the richness of white chocolate. Each bite gives you multiple textures – the soft cake-like base, the creamy frosting, and the slight crunch from the white chocolate drizzle.

The bars are easy to transport, which makes them perfect for holiday gatherings. Unlike traditional cakes that need special containers, these bars stack nicely in a simple tin or plastic container. They hold up well during travel and still look beautiful when you arrive at your destination.

You can make these bars ahead of time. They actually taste better the next day after the flavors have time to blend together. This quality makes them ideal for busy holiday schedules when you need to prepare food in advance.

The recipe scales up easily. If you need to feed a crowd, you can double or triple the recipe without any issues. The bars cut cleanly, giving you consistent pieces that look professional.

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Where Did Cranberry Bliss Bars Come From?

Cranberry bliss bars became popular through a famous coffee chain in the 1990s. The company created them as a seasonal holiday offering, combining cranberries and white chocolate in a bar format that customers could enjoy with their coffee. The original version featured a blondie-style base with dried cranberries and orange zest mixed into the batter.

The dessert quickly gained a loyal following. Customers looked forward to their return each holiday season. Home bakers started creating their own versions, adjusting the recipe to match their taste preferences. Today, countless variations exist, but they all share the core elements of cranberries, white chocolate, and a cream cheese component that defines these bars.

Ingredients Notes

All-purpose flour forms the structure of these bars. Use fresh flour that hasn’t been sitting in your pantry for years. Old flour can make your bars taste stale.

White chocolate chips should be real white chocolate, not vanilla chips. Check the label – real white chocolate contains cocoa butter. The quality of your white chocolate directly affects the final taste.

Dried cranberries work better than fresh ones for this recipe. Fresh cranberries have too much moisture and will make the bars soggy. Look for cranberries that are still soft and pliable, not hard and dried out.

Cream cheese must be full-fat and at room temperature for the frosting. Low-fat cream cheese will make the frosting runny and hard to spread. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to use it.

Orange zest adds a bright citrus note that enhances both the cranberries and white chocolate. Use only the orange part of the peel – the white pith underneath tastes bitter.

Butter should be unsalted so you can control the salt level in your bars. Salted butter varies by brand, which can throw off the flavor balance.

Vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors. Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla, for the best results.

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How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bars

Step 1: Set your oven to 350°F. Take out a 9×13 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving some paper hanging over the sides. This overhang will help you lift the bars out of the pan later.

Step 2: Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk these dry ingredients together until they’re evenly combined. Set this bowl aside.

Step 3: Melt the butter in a large bowl. You can do this in the microwave or on the stovetop. Let the butter cool for about 5 minutes so it won’t cook the eggs when you add them.

Step 4: Add the brown sugar to the melted butter. Stir them together until the mixture looks smooth and the sugar has dissolved into the butter.

Step 5: Crack the eggs into the butter mixture. Add the vanilla extract. Beat everything together with a whisk or electric mixer until the mixture turns lighter in color and becomes fluffy.

Step 6: Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir gently with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Stop stirring as soon as you don’t see any dry flour. Overmixing will make your bars tough.

Step 7: Add the orange zest, dried cranberries, and half of the white chocolate chips to the batter. Fold them in gently so they distribute evenly throughout.

Step 8: Spread the batter into your prepared pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top so it bakes evenly.

Step 9: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The bars are done when the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Step 10: Let the bars cool completely in the pan. This takes about 2 hours at room temperature. Don’t try to frost them while they’re warm – the frosting will melt.

Step 11: Make the cream cheese frosting by beating the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.

Step 12: Spread the frosting over the cooled bars. Use an offset spatula to create an even layer.

Step 13: Melt the remaining white chocolate chips in a small bowl. Microwave them in 15-second intervals, stirring between each one, until they’re completely smooth.

Step 14: Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the frosted bars. You can use a spoon or transfer the chocolate to a plastic bag, cut off a small corner, and pipe it on in lines.

Step 15: Sprinkle the remaining dried cranberries on top while the white chocolate is still wet. This helps them stick to the bars.

Step 16: Refrigerate the bars for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting and chocolate. Then lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and cut them into squares.

What You Must Know About Cranberry Bliss Bars

Don’t skip the orange zest. It might seem like a small ingredient, but it makes a big difference in the overall flavor. The citrus brightens the sweetness and makes the bars taste more complex.

Wait until the bars are completely cool before frosting them. I learned this lesson the hard way when my frosting melted into a puddle on warm bars. The bars need to be at room temperature or even slightly chilled.

Use parchment paper to line your pan. This step makes removing the bars so much easier. Without it, you’ll struggle to get clean cuts and the first few bars might fall apart.

Don’t overbake these bars. They should still look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out of the oven. They’ll continue cooking as they cool, and this keeps them soft and chewy instead of dry and cake-like.

Helpful Tips

Chop your dried cranberries if they’re very large. Smaller pieces distribute more evenly throughout the bars and make them easier to cut cleanly.

Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter for extra warmth and spice. These flavors complement the cranberries and orange beautifully.

If your frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk to thin it out. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency.

Score the bars lightly with a knife before cutting them all the way through. This helps you get straight lines and even pieces.

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Variations and Substitutions

Replace the white chocolate with dark chocolate if you prefer less sweetness. Dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with cranberries and creates a more sophisticated flavor profile.

Use lemon zest instead of orange zest for a different citrus flavor. Lemon gives the bars a brighter, sharper taste.

Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for extra crunch. Toast the nuts first to bring out their flavor.

Substitute dried cherries for some or all of the cranberries. Cherries have a sweeter flavor that some people prefer.

Make these bars gluten-free by using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Make sure your baking powder is also gluten-free.

Try cream cheese frosting with maple syrup instead of vanilla for a unique twist. This gives the bars a subtle maple flavor that works well with fall gatherings.

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Serving Suggestions for Cranberry Bliss Bars

Serve these bars on a white platter to make the red cranberries pop visually. The contrast looks festive and elegant.

Cut the bars into small squares for parties. Bite-sized pieces let guests sample multiple desserts without feeling too full.

Pair these bars with hot coffee or tea. The bitterness of coffee balances the sweetness of the bars perfectly.

Dust the serving platter with a light coating of powdered sugar for an extra festive look. This creates the appearance of fresh snow.

Arrange fresh cranberries and small orange slices around the base of the platter. These decorative touches reinforce the flavors in the bars.

Serve the bars slightly chilled. The cold temperature firms up the frosting and makes them easier to eat with your hands.

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Storage and Reheating

Store cranberry bliss bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cream cheese frosting requires refrigeration to stay fresh and safe to eat.

These bars keep well for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. The flavors actually improve after the first day as everything melds together.

You can freeze unfrosted bars for up to 3 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. Thaw the bars in the refrigerator overnight, then frost them before serving.

Don’t freeze bars that already have frosting on them. The frosting can become watery and separate when thawed, which ruins the texture.

If you want to serve the bars at room temperature, take them out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving. They taste best when they’re not ice cold.

These bars don’t need reheating. They’re meant to be enjoyed at room temperature or cold. Heating them would melt the frosting and white chocolate drizzle.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Nutritional information is approximate and based on one bar when the recipe yields 24 servings

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Best Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Learn how to make cranberry bliss bars with white chocolate, dried cranberries, and cream cheese frosting. This easy recipe creates the perfect festive holiday treat that everyone loves.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

cooling time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 bars

Calories 285 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup white chocolate chips divided
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
• Stir brown sugar into the melted butter until smooth and combined.
• Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined.
• Fold in orange zest, dried cranberries, and ½ cup of white chocolate chips.
• Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until edges are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let the bars cool completely in the pan for about 2 hours.
• Beat softened cream cheese and ¼ cup butter together until smooth.
• Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until fluffy.
• Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
• Melt the remaining ½ cup white chocolate chips in 15-second intervals, stirring between each one.
• Drizzle melted white chocolate over the frosted bars.
• Sprinkle additional dried cranberries on top while the chocolate is still wet.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting and chocolate.
• Lift bars from the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into 24 squares.

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