Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (Print Version)

Buttery bars filled with tart cranberries and white chocolate, topped with creamy orange frosting

# 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

# Step-by-Step:

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 to 5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
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. Do not overmix.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing the top 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 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 the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting cuts through the sweetness in a way that keeps you reaching for another piece.
  • They hold up beautifully on a cookie tray and look impressive without requiring any fancy piping skills.
  • The chewy texture and little bursts of cranberry make them feel festive without being overly complicated.
02 -
  • Make sure your butter and cream cheese are truly softened or the frosting will be lumpy and the batter won't cream properly.
  • Chopping the cranberries into smaller pieces distributes the tartness more evenly and prevents big chewy surprises.
  • Let the bars cool completely before frosting or the cream cheese will melt and slide right off.
03 -
  • Melt your white chocolate in short 15-second bursts in the microwave, stirring between each, to avoid seizing or burning.
  • Line your pan with parchment in both directions so you can lift the entire batch out in one piece without any wrestling.
  • If the frosting feels too thick, add orange juice a teaspoon at a time until it reaches a spreadable consistency.
Return