Cranberry Bliss Bars – a homemade version of the popular Starbucks treat! These taste just like the original, and are easy to make right at home!
Y’ALL! I am so so SO excited to share this recipe with you today!
It’s been a labor of love for the past few weeks. At this point I’d say my family is pretty cranberry-bliss-bar-d out, but I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel until I got them just right. With some little tweaks made to each batch, I finally did it! I even set up a side-by-side taste test with a bar purchased from my local Starbucks and these taste just the same, if not better! I find these to be slightly more chewy in texture, which I actually prefer!
The real game changer is the orange extract. A little goes a long way, butĀ it really gives these bars that authentic flavor. Don’t leave it out!
Today I’mĀ also excited because my husband and I have a ball to go to tonight!
It’s been a few years since our last military ball, so I’ve been looking forward to this one for a long time. Getting dressed up doesn’t happen too often around here. Most of the time you can find me wearing workout clothes and a messy bun, and usuallyĀ those clothes are covered in flour, chocolate, or some other mess from the kitchen! I’m even splurging and getting my hair did. And makeup, too!! If I like how the pictures turn out, maybe I’ll share one with y’all next week. š
In the mean time, seriously try out these Cranberry Bliss Bars! With this recipe, you can have them anytime of the year, not just at Christmas anymore.Ā They are also much cheaper to make at home and make A LOT, so it’s perfect to take with you for your next holiday gathering.
Enjoy!!
Cranberry Bliss Bars {Starbucks Copy Cat Recipe}
Ingredients
Bars:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup Craisins
Frosting and Topping:
- 8 oz. cream cheese,, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup Craisins,, roughly chopped
- 2 squares baking chocolate or almond bark,, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15x10 or 13x9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. *see notes
- Beat together melted butter and brown sugar over medium speed with an electric mixer. Add in eggs, 1 tsp orange extract, and 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat until mixed well. Add in ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and flour, beating until just blended. Don't overmix.
- Stir in white chocolate chips and Craisins by hand. Spread evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges. Don't overbake or bars will be hard. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool. Allow bars to cool completely before topping with frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add 1/2 tsp orange extract and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and mix well. Top cooled bars with frosting. Sprinkle with chopped Craisins and drizzle white chocolate over the top with a fork. I dip my fork into the chocolate then shake it gently over the top of the bars to create little streaks. You can either slice right away and enjoy, or place the bars in the refrigerator for about an hour (what I like to do) to help them set up before cutting. Cut into triangles and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Erin says
Made these for BUNCO last night and they were a hit! Iāve never had the original but was told these were better!! I made a couple changes to recipe. Instead of ginger, used cardamom. Instead of vanilla, used almond. And orange zest instead of orange extract. Perfection! Thank you!
Wendy says
I love this recipe!!! I have made it a ton of times and everyone loves it !!
Cammy Ellis Darling says
I made these in a regular cake pan. They turned out PERFECT!! I even did the side by side taste test with the original and they were exact. Thank you so much for this!!
I used reduced sugar craizins and Ghirardelli chips and melting wafers. The orange extract is a must. Don’t skip it!
KathleenPangelinan says
The best! How long do they stay good for in the refrigerator?
Ashlyn Edwards says
Hi Kathleen! They will be good for up to a week. š
picosinge says
These are delicious and kept very well in the fridge for almost two weeks! In fact, I found them even better after a week as the moisture from the frosting had a chance to soften the harder edges and make the bars softer and chewier.
Tory says
Love love these.. made them plenty of time. My husband finds them a little too sweet though. Can you use less sugar in the batter and less sugar in the frosting?
Cat says
These are wonderful….made them for Christmas, everyone loved them šš¼šš¼ā¤ļø
Candace McArtor says
These are amazing!!!!!! Excellent recipe! I used a 13 x 9 size pan as you noted. They came out perfect, just like the ones at Starbucks. I surprised my sister with a plate of them on Christmas day because it’s also her birthday. When she walked in, her reaction was the best. She thought I went and bought a bunch for her from Starbucks. They not only looked just like the Starbucks ones, they tasted like it too.
Pamela Sargeant says
what are craisons?
Ashlyn Edwards says
Dried cranberries.
Suzy says
Definitely a keeper!
Brittany says
These were so fantastic! Texture is so good- chewy . Flavor is so good with the orange extract and ground ginger. They are so beautiful when you drizzle white chocolate. These are such a perfect Christmas treat!
Mathieu says
Made this twice now and everyone loved it… had several people ask me for the recipe and cant stop raving about it …only thing I had done differently is used mini white chocolate chips and zested a lemon over it once finished just for a nice color and freshness.
Ruth Pologruto says
Made these for our agency Christmas lunch. People are asking for the recipe. I’m eagerly sharing your webpage. I’m getting ready to make them foamy family’s Christmas dinner.
Amanda says
This recipe was delicious and I would definitely make it again. Very festive Christmas party treat. My tip to other bakers would be when you measure out your Craisins for the batter make sure you separate out any clumps before you pour them in, they will not “unclump” as you stir the batter.
TISH LAQUE says
Can i possibly substitute margarine for butter? Will that wreck this recipe? Does anyone know?
Jena Olson says
I’ve never left a recipe review in my life but these are ridiculously amazing! I’m scared to have them in my refrigerator until I give them out at Christmas. Exact replicas!
Pam says
Easy and delicious š
karen Scheel says
Love this recipe so darn GOOD. How long Will they last for in an airtight container in the fridge
Jill Hanson says
Easy to make and just as good, if not better than Starbucks – I made a tray for a Christmas party, and they were a huge hit!
Joy says
This recipe is definitely identical! I have made these Cranberry Bliss Bars several times and everyone thinks they taste just like the ones at Starbucks! Thank you so much for sharing your spot on recipe and have a Merry Christmas!
Pam says
I made these last year and Iām going to make them again today. They were great and tasted just like the ones at Starbucks! My market didnāt have orange extract so I used orange zest.
Kody says
This recipe looks wonderful! Thank you so much for taking the time. I have a quick question. Would you recommend tempering the chocolate before drizzling on top?
Ashlyn Edwards says
No, you don’t have to!
Brianna says
I loved this recipe! So easy and they were absolutely divine!! I did use the blueberry infused Craisins and they were bomb! Thank you for this recipe! Making it for a second time tonight š
Dawn Abbott says
Hope they freeze okay…has anyone tried that?
Ashlyn Edwards says
Yes, they freeze well!
Nancy says
not only do they freeze well, but the texture is delicious right out of the freezer….unfortunately!
Tamara Larson says
so good!