Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Printable version)

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

# 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

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an 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 without 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 the center comes out 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 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 cooled, spread frosting evenly over bars.
12 - Sprinkle with additional chopped 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 frosting cuts through the sweetness in a way that feels bright and surprising, not cloying.
  • You can mix the batter in one bowl without worrying about precision, and it still turns out perfectly chewy.
  • They slice cleanly, stack well, and actually survive a car ride to a party without falling apart.
  • The white chocolate drizzle is optional, but it makes them look like you spent way more time than you did.
02 -
  • If you frost the bars while they're still warm, the cream cheese will turn into a soupy mess and slide right off the top.
  • Chopping the cranberries before folding them in prevents big pockets of tartness and helps them distribute evenly.
  • Melting white chocolate in short microwave bursts and stirring between each one keeps it smooth and prevents it from seizing into a grainy clump.
03 -
  • Use room temperature cream cheese and butter, cold ingredients won't cream properly and will leave lumps in your frosting and batter.
  • Line your pan with parchment paper that overhangs the edges, it turns the whole slab into a lift-and-slice situation with no wrestling.
  • Wipe your knife clean between cuts to get those bakery-perfect squares without dragging frosting and crumbs everywhere.
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