Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Print version)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, crowned with zesty orange cream cheese frosting and elegant white chocolate drizzle.

# What you’ll 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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3-5 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. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top surface.
08 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges are golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment and transfer to 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 completely cool, spread frosting evenly over bars.
12 - Sprinkle with additional chopped dried cranberries if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top using spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Cooking tips:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting adds a bright citrus kick that cuts through the sweetness in the most satisfying way.
  • Theyre soft, chewy, and sturdy enough to stack in tins or pack for gifting without falling apart.
  • You can prep the base a day ahead and frost them right before serving, which saves precious holiday kitchen time.
02 -
  • Do not frost warm bars, the cream cheese frosting will melt into a puddle and youll lose that beautiful clean layer.
  • Chop the cranberries before folding them in, whole dried cranberries can be tough to bite through and make slicing uneven.
  • Let the melted white chocolate cool slightly before drizzling, or it will be too runny and disappear into the frosting.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or large knife dipped in hot water to get perfectly clean cuts through the frosting.
  • Toast the white chocolate chips lightly before folding them in for a deeper, caramelized flavor that adds unexpected complexity.
  • If your frosting is too soft to spread, chill it for 10 minutes, it will firm up and become much easier to work with.
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