Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Frosting (Printable version)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with zesty orange cream cheese frosting and a decorative white chocolate drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bar Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup packed brown sugar
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
04 - 3 large eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

→ Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

12 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 1 tablespoon orange zest
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

→ Topping

16 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
17 - 1/3 cup white chocolate, melted

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
07 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top evenly.
08 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper and transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
10 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in orange zest and orange juice until creamy.
11 - Once completely cool, spread frosting evenly over bars.
12 - Sprinkle with chopped dried cranberries if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They taste like the fancy holiday treats you crave but cost a fraction and fill your whole house with the scent of orange and vanilla.
  • The frosting is tangy enough to balance the sweetness, so you can actually eat more than one without feeling like you overdid it.
  • You can make them a day ahead and they get even better as the flavors settle into each other overnight.
02 -
  • Let the bars cool all the way before you frost them or the cream cheese will slide right off and pool in the corners.
  • Chop the cranberries into smaller pieces so they distribute evenly and dont create big pockets of tartness.
  • Use real orange zest, not extract, because the fresh oils make all the difference in the frosting.
03 -
  • Melt the white chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one, or itll seize up and turn grainy.
  • If your frosting is too thick to spread, add a teaspoon of orange juice at a time until it loosens up.
  • Line the pan with enough parchment overhang that you can grab both sides and lift the whole thing out without wrestling with a spatula.
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