Cranberry Bliss Bars {Starbucks Copycat Recipe}
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!
This is my absolute favorite dessert to make for the holidays. They are fabulous for parties, gift-giving, and everything in between during the festive season. For even more holiday recipes, check out some of our other favorites like The Best Chocolate Pecan Pie and Candy Cookie Bark!
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, but it really gives these bars that authentic flavor. Don’t leave it out!
With this recipe, you can have them anytime of the year, not just at Christmas anymore. 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.
Ingredients for Cranberry Bliss Bars
unsalted butter / brown sugar / eggs
orange extract / vanilla extract / ground ginger
baking powder / salt / all purpose flour
white chocolate chips / dried cranberries / cream cheese
powdered sugar / almond bark
How to Make Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars – Step by Step
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 15×10 or 13×9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- 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 as shown below.
How to Slice
- Remove the bars from of the pan by gently lifting the sides of the parchment paper and placing it on a cutting board. Slice the bars lengthwise into long strips.
- Next, slice the bars horizontally to form squares.
- Finally, slice the bars crosswise to create triangles.
Tips and Notes
- What pan works best: I’ve made these successfully using two sizes of pans; a 15×10 jelly roll pan, or a 9×13 jelly roll pan (rimmed baking sheet.) The larger size pan will lend to thinner bars, and the smaller pan will make thicker bars which are more similar to the true Starbucks version. Either will work, but the 9×13 pan is what I prefer to use. If you don’t have a 9×13 jelly roll pan, you can also use a regular 9×13 pyrex casserole dish.
- Line your baking pan: for easier removal and cutting of your cranberry bliss bars, line your pan with parchment paper that overhangs on the sides. This will allow you to “lift” the bars out of the pan and slice them easily.
- Orange extract is essential! Don’t skimp on it. It really brings out the true flavor of these bars! If you don’t have orange extract or are unable to find it, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of orange zest and 1 teaspoon of orange juice.
- Frosting: The frosting on these is slightly thinner than the Starbucks version, but will set up well once refrigerated. If you prefer a thicker frosting, feel free to add an additional 1/2 cup of sugar.
- Topping: You can use either white baking chocolate or almond bark for the topping. Both are easy to melt in the microwave. To make the pretty streaks on top of the bars, dip a fork into the melted chocolate then shake gently over the top over the bars.
- How to store: once the bars are sliced, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Can I freeze these Cranberry Bliss Bars?
Yes! Prepare and slice as directed. Place the bars in the refrigerator for at least four hours, then cover tightly in a container with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the bars overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Can these Cranberry Bliss Bars be made gluten free?
Yes! In order to make these bars gluten free, all you need to do is swap out the all purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free flour. I would recommend one of the blends from either Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur Flour.
More Amazing Holiday Treats
Cranberry Bliss Bars {Starbucks Copycat Recipe}
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!
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 white 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
- What pan works best: I've made these successfully using two sizes of pans; a 15x10 jelly roll pan, or a 9x13 jelly roll pan (rimmed baking sheet.) The larger size pan will lend to thinner bars, and the smaller pan will make thicker bars which are more similar to the true Starbucks version. Either will work, but the 9x13 pan is what I prefer to use. If you don't have a 9x13 jelly roll pan, you can also use a regular 9x13 pyrex casserole dish.
- Line your baking pan: for easier removal and cutting of your cranberry bliss bars, line your pan with parchment paper that overhangs on the sides. This will allow you to “lift” the bars out of the pan and slice them easily.
- Orange extract is essential! Don't skimp on it. It really brings out the true flavor of these bars! If you don't have orange extract or are unable to find it, you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of orange zest and 1 teaspoon of orange juice.
- Frosting: The frosting on these is slightly thinner than the Starbucks version, but will set up well once refrigerated. If you prefer a thicker frosting, feel free to add an additional 1/2 cup of sugar.
- Topping: You can use either white baking chocolate or almond bark for the topping. Both are easy to melt in the microwave. To make the pretty streaks on top of the bars, dip a fork into the melted chocolate then shake gently over the top over the bars.
- How to store: once the bars are sliced, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- How to freeze: Prepare and slice as directed. Place the bars in the refrigerator for at least four hours, then cover tightly in a container with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the bars overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- How to make gluten free: In order to make these bars gluten free, all you need to do is swap out the all purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free flour. I would recommend one of the blends from either Bob's Red Mill or King Arthur Flour.
Calories: 289kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 163mg, Potassium: 89mg, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 385IU, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.
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This is an outstanding copycat recipe! Flavor and texture is spot-on Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. My co-workers raved! Try it – you won’t be sad!
LOVE these bars. I followed the recipe exactly as shown using the substitution for orange extract of OJ and orange zest. I like the bits of zest in each bite. Looking forward to gifting these as I am presently living in the land of Dunkin’ Donuts and no Starbucks shops.
This is the 3rd year I’ve been using your recipe to make these and they are always a hit! (I’m currently baking a batch for Friendsgiving potluck 😊)
But this is the best part. This year when Starbucks released their holiday treats I got myself a cranberry bliss bar. It was decent, but my overall thought was, “I make them WAY better”. All because of your awesome recipe! So thank you 🙏
My sister in law made these for me last Christmas and they were soooooo good.
Absolutely fantastic recipe! I made these and my husband thought I went to Starbucks! This is a must make!!
These are perfect and imho, better than Starbucks?? Everyone thinks I’m a genius, thanks to you, and request these at Thanksgiving and Christmas and bake sales! I’m *almost* sick of making them! Lol!
Thanks for the closest copycat on the internet. It is spot on! The recipe didn’t specify dark or light brown sugar. To get that extra chewy consistency, I used dark brown sugar in step 1 and also added 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to the dry ingredients. It was perfection — I am curious if they’re equally as chewy with light brown sugar and no cornstarch. I might need to make them again to see how I prefer them.
Omg! You have saved me so much money this year. I was already getting sick thinking how much a little bliss bar is, so I decided to try your recipe out. Wow!!! You have an amazing dupe recipe. Came out perfectly in a normal 9×13. Thanks so much!!!
I made these several times in 2022 and loved loved loved them! All of my friends and co-workers also loved them. I’ve made with regular chocolate and white chocolate. Both were delicious, but I decided I liked the white chocolate better. Now we’re in 2023 and yesterday I made a 1.5 batch in a 10×15 pan. They seemed too thick after raising and took about an hour to bake. I considered them a disaster and started over with a single batch in 9×13. Still took FOREVER to bake and seemed too dark. However, they taste good (except for edges). I use an oven thermometer. I am perplexed at what is going wrong this year. I won’t give up, but I’m wondering if glass pan makes a difference. Also, maybe my oven thermometer is off. Frustrating, but still giving five stars because I know how good they are when I’m not somehow messing up.
Google “metal versus glass for baking”. There’s an excellent article on “WikiHow”. It will give you the answer and explain why you should use a metal pan for this type of baking.
I mistakenly used almond extract instead of orange extract and it was absolutely delicious!
Why on Earth is baking chocolate in the ingredient list but nowhere in the directions?
It is for drizzling over the top of the bars at the end. It’s listed in the very last step of the directions.
I absolutely love this recipe, and it has inspired me to come up with my own variations of different flavors, which is one of my biggest sellers in my part time baking gig. Thank you for inspiring me
I have made this recipe before and it is excellent! I no longer have to wait for Christmas to eat them!! I’m making them ahead of time for my daughter’s wedding. This is my favorite “cookie”!
Is it possible to freeze them? I wonder if Starbucks receives them frozen and already frosted. Maybe freeze without frosting until the day before?
Hi Terri, so glad you’re enjoying these! You can definitely freeze them. I freeze them with the frosting on and they thaw beautifully.
Hello Terri, I formally worked at Starbucks and I can confirm we receive them frozen and thaw them in a fridge overnight before serving.
Made these several times, most recently for a birthday party for easter and they all got finished not a single one left, Everybody said make these again for the next gathering (I honestly was not sure if everybody would like them)
I just made another batch and they’re even better than the first time I made them for Christmas!! Super easy and so delicious!!
No more money spent at Starbucks! Thanks so much for this recipe! Turned out perfect & the minute I opened that orange extract, I knew it was about to be the “real thing!”
I’m obsessed!
Super easy, delicious, and perfect for the Holidays!
Made these for a family gathering. They are absolutely delicious! Everyone thinks they are yummy. The cranberries and the white chocolate drizzle give the bars a festive flair bWill definitely make them again!
FANTASTIC RECIPE! Made so many times. I use a Jelly Roll sheet pan and double the cream cheese and decrease the powdered sugar, so good!
Thank you so much for your hard work! My friend is disappointed that she can’t find them around here,. I cannot wait to surprise her on Christmas with these!!
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Unsalted.
Forgot to add in my original comment. I didn’t have orange extract but I used organic orange essential oil and orange blossom extract and it worked like magic.
These bars are so delicious and look beautiful too, ready decorated for Christmas!
I made a few modifications to the amount of sugar since they came out too sweet the first time.
I had to cut the sugar in the dough to 1 cup an they were still too sweet. The cream cheese frosting came out perfect with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar. 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar for 8 oz of cream cheese as the recipe calls for is way too sweet.
I think these bars are becoming a staple for the holidays since everyone who tasted them, loved them.
Amazing tasting bars. My only issue is with the icing. It’s too soft for my liking. I’d like a firmer icing, similar to the SB bars. Any suggestions?
Did you get an answer?