Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Frosting (Printable Version)

Buttery bars loaded with cranberries, topped with zesty orange frosting and white chocolate 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 orange juice

→ Topping

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

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an 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 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 ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined without overmixing.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula with gentle, deliberate motions.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing the top surface with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges are golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in orange zest and orange juice until creamy and spreadable.
11 - Once bars are completely cool, spread frosting evenly over the entire surface.
12 - If desired, sprinkle additional chopped dried cranberries over frosting. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve immediately or store for later use.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting cuts through the sweetness with a bright, creamy tang that makes each bite feel balanced and exciting.
  • You can mix the batter by hand in under ten minutes, and the bars bake while you tidy up or start dinner.
  • They hold up beautifully in a tin for gifting, traveling to potlucks, or keeping on hand when unexpected guests show up.
02 -
  • Do not spread the frosting until the bars are completely cool, or the cream cheese will soften and run off the sides in a sticky mess.
  • Chop the dried cranberries into smaller pieces before folding them in, or you will end up with big chewy clumps that are hard to cut through cleanly.
  • Line the pan with parchment paper even if it is nonstick, because the overhang makes lifting the bars out simple and prevents broken corners.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or a long, thin knife dipped in hot water to slice clean, professional looking bars without dragging the frosting.
  • Melt the white chocolate in short 15 second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each interval, to avoid scorching it into a grainy, unusable mess.
  • Let the butter and cream cheese sit on the counter for at least an hour before you start, because cold dairy will not cream or whip properly and your texture will suffer.
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