These Blissful Cranberry Bars based on Starbucks version are just as good if not better than the original. A soft cake with cranberries and white chocolate.

Blissful Cranberry Bars topped with dried cranberries and icing on a plate

One of the best things that Starbucks ever invented was the Cranberry Bliss Bars. OH MY heaven. They are amazing! I could easily eat the whole box; I actually did on one occasion 2 years ago when 4 out of 5 of my kids had strep throat at the same time over Christmas break. My friend brought me a box of these and my favorite hot chocolate with hazelnut. I think it was the lack of sleep that caused me to devour the box or was it just that they are that good? They are that good.

When I looked at the back of the box and saw how many calories I had just consumed…I can’t even tell you. I vowed to never eat them again, instead, I would make them myself…LOL! So I Googled it and found this recipe, I made a couple of adjustments just to cater to ingredients I had on hand. This is a very festive dessert perfect for any holiday party, family gathering or sweet craving.

Enjoy! XOXO San

How do you make Blissful Cranberry Bars?

Bars
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9×13 metal baking pan.
  • Using an electric mixer beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, ginger, vanilla, and salt and beat well.  Slowly add flour, mixing until well combined. Stir in the chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
  • Using a spatula spread batter in the pan making sure it is spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned on top. Allow cake to cool.
Frosting
  • Using your electric mixer again, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.

  • Once the cake has cooled spread the frosting evenly over the bars and sprinkle the 1/4 cup of dried cranberries over the frosting.

  • Cover and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Cut 8 rectangular pieces remove them from the pan then cut them diagonally, creating 16 triangular pieces.

Looking for more cranberry dessert ideas? Check these out: Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Pound CakeCranberry Bliss Sweet Rolls, and Cranberry-Orange White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cookie.

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

Blissful Cranberry Bars

Servings: 16
Calories: 378 kcal
These Blissful Cranberry Bars based on Starbucks version are just as good if not better than the original. A soft cake with cranberries and white chocolate.

Ingredients
 

Bars

  • 3/4 cup butter softened
  • 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
  • 1 cup Ghirardelli white chocolate chips

Frosting

  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Bars

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9x13 metal baking pan.
  • Using an electric mixer beat butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, ginger, vanilla, and salt and beat well. Slow add in flour, mixing until well combined. Stir in the chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. 
  • Using a spatula spread batter in the pan making sure it is spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned on top. Allow cake to cool.

Frosting

  • Using your electric mixer again, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
  • Once the cake has cooled spread the frosting evenly over the bars and sprinkle the 1/4 cup of dried cranberries over the frosting.
  • Cover and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Cut 8 rectangular pieces remove them from the pan then cut them diagonally, creating 16 triangular pieces.
Calories: 378kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 209mgPotassium: 113mgSugar: 49gVitamin A: 355IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 0.9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

My review: Great for the holidays and this will always delight the guests.

Kids review: When I asked them what they thought they replied, “Mom, we already told you it was delicious!” Okay, I am asking for too many food reviews. (smile)
Recipe adapted from Todd Wilbur’s Top Secret Recipes

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14 Comments

  1. These look amazing! I am addicted to Trader Joes – A Cranberry Walked Into A Bar – Bar! I think these could be a substitute! Thank you for sharing at our TGIF Link Party at A Peek Into My Paradise! Your post is featured at this weeks party I can’t wait to see what you share this week!
    I am currently accepting posts for themed bloggers showcase/roundups and would love for you to participate! Go here for the details and to join in on the fun! http://apeekintomyparadise.com/bloggers-showcase-submissions Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.com

  2. Hi Sandra! What a wonderful recipe! Thank you for sharing it with us at last week’s Get Crafty Friday link party. I’m stopping by to let you know that you have been featured this week. I hope you will stop by and share with us again. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    -Amy

  3. I’m getting ready to make these and thought I was losing it. I didn’t see where in the directions it said to add any flour. I think I’ll wing it and hope for the best.

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