Cranberry Bliss Bars

A reinvention of Starbucks famous, delicious Cranberry Bliss Bar.  I sat there as the holidays swept past me eating that delicious, moist, sweet, Bar of Bliss, and a Breve latte, and it occurred to me I knew how to make them.

*Revised 12/23/11








Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cookie Base

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 cup dried cranberries, slightly chopped
4-6 ounces white chocolate BAR, coarsely chopped; pieces a bit bigger than an eraser head

White Chocolate Frosting
1/2 package(4 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tsp Orange zest

4 tbs fresh juice from the zested Orange
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate baking bar, melted, separated into two 1/2 cups

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch oblong cake pan with nonstick spray, or butter lightly.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Remove from heat. Add the brown sugar and stir until smooth. Transfer butter & sugar into a large bowl, and let cool to room temperature. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, And salt; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate.

3. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Do not overbake. Cool completely on a wire rack.

4. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, orange zest and juice, and powdered sugar until well-blended. Gradually add the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost bars. Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Refrigerate for about 3-4 hours.  These may be served brought to room temperature, or slightly chilled.

Melting White Chocolate - I would like to say there is some romantic stove top double boiler way to melt white chocolate.. save yourself the frustration and stick with the microwave.

Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on medium-power setting for 15-30 seconds at a time, checking it each time. Then whisk it smooth.