Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Frosting (Printable)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with tangy orange frosting and sweet drizzle.

# What You 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 Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly 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 ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula with gentle motions.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing the top surface with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean and edges appear golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper and transfer to a 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 frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
11 - Once completely cooled, spread frosting evenly over the surface of the bars using an offset spatula.
12 - Sprinkle additional chopped dried cranberries over frosting if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate across the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut bars into uniform squares or rectangles and serve immediately or store for later consumption.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The orange zest in the frosting adds a bright, unexpected twist that keeps people guessing.
  • These bars hold up beautifully on a dessert table without getting soggy or falling apart.
  • You can make them a day ahead and they actually taste better after the flavors settle overnight.
  • The white chocolate drizzle makes them look bakery fancy with almost no effort.
02 -
  • If you frost the bars while they're even slightly warm, the cream cheese will melt and slide right off, so patience is everything here.
  • Chopping the cranberries before folding them in prevents big pockets where the bars can fall apart when you cut them.
  • Melting white chocolate slowly in short bursts keeps it from seizing up and turning grainy.
03 -
  • Line your pan with enough parchment overhang to lift the whole slab out in one piece, it saves so much hassle when frosting and cutting.
  • Taste your cranberries before adding them, some brands are sweeter than others and you might want to adjust the sugar slightly.
  • If you're making these for a crowd, cut them into smaller squares so people can grab two without feeling guilty.
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