Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Print Version)

Buttery cranberry bars with orange cream cheese frosting and white chocolate drizzle. Holiday favorite!

# Ingredient List:

→ 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
17 - 1/3 cup white chocolate, melted

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, allowing overhang on sides 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 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 the batter.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula until evenly distributed.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean and edges are golden brown.
09 - Allow bars to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to 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 creamy and spreadable.
11 - Once completely cooled, spread frosting evenly across the entire surface of the bars.
12 - Sprinkle additional chopped cranberries over frosting if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut bars into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting cuts through the sweetness in a way that makes you reach for a second piece without thinking.
  • Everything comes together in one bowl for the base, so cleanup is almost suspiciously easy.
  • They hold up beautifully at room temperature for gatherings, which means no last minute panic about refrigeration.
  • The white chocolate drizzle looks fancy but requires zero artistic skill.
02 -
  • Do not frost warm bars or the cream cheese will melt into a soupy mess and slide right off.
  • Chopping the cranberries makes all the difference in texture, whole ones create uneven pockets that can be too tart.
  • If your frosting is too thick, add orange juice a teaspoon at a time until it spreads easily.
03 -
  • Freeze unfrosted bars for up to three months, then thaw and frost the day you plan to serve them.
  • A small offset spatula makes frosting these bars incredibly easy and gives you bakery smooth results.
  • Toast the white chocolate chips lightly before folding them in for a subtle caramelized flavor that surprises people.
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