Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars: Your Guide to Starbucks-Level Indulgence

Indulge in the festive magic of these Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars, a beloved Starbucks classic, now perfected for your home kitchen. These delightful treats are soft, exquisitely buttery, and generously speckled with vibrant dried cranberries and creamy white chocolate. What truly elevates them is a surprising, yet perfectly balanced, boost of flavor from delicate crystallized ginger. Forget waiting for the holidays; with this recipe, you can savor the bliss all year round!

There’s an undeniable allure to Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, a seasonal sensation that captures the essence of holiday cheer in every bite. Their popularity during the Thanksgiving and New Year’s period is immense, and for good reason. But what if you could recreate that irresistible taste and texture right in your own kitchen? Our ultimate cranberry bliss bar recipe promises to do just that, delivering a homemade version that rivals, or even surpasses, the original. Prepare for a truly sensational culinary experience that will delight your taste buds and impress everyone who tries them.

Why You Need to Bake These Incredible Cranberry Bliss Bars

If you’re looking for a dessert that embodies festive cheer and offers undeniable deliciousness, these homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars are an absolute must-make. Beyond their incredible flavor, they offer several compelling advantages:

• Enjoy Them Any Time, Not Just Seasonally: One of the biggest advantages of mastering this copycat recipe is breaking free from Starbucks’ seasonal schedule. Craving the sweet, tangy, and subtly spicy flavor of Cranberry Bliss Bars in July? Go for it! This recipe empowers you to enjoy your favorite treat whenever the mood strikes, making any day feel a little more special and indulgent.
• The Ultimate Holiday Treat: These bars truly shine during the festive season. Their vibrant colors and comforting flavors make them an ideal addition to any holiday gathering. Whether you’re participating in a lively cookie exchange, leaving a thoughtful plate out for Santa, or simply want an amazing, festive treat for your family, these bars are perfectly suited. They bring a touch of elegance and warmth to any holiday spread, easily becoming a centerpiece dessert that guests will rave about.
• Excellent for Freezing and Make-Ahead Convenience: Planning ahead for holiday baking or simply want to stash away some treats for later? These Cranberry Bliss Bars freeze beautifully! You can bake a large batch, slice them, and freeze them in an airtight container for weeks. This not only saves you time during busy periods but also ensures you always have a delightful indulgence on hand. Or, perhaps, it’s just a clever way to hide them from yourself after you’ve “sampled” too many!
• Perfect for Gifting: Homemade treats always make the best gifts. Package these beautiful bars in a festive box or tin, and you’ve got a thoughtful, delicious present for friends, neighbors, or teachers.
• Customizable to Your Taste: While this recipe nails the Starbucks flavor profile, making them at home allows you to slightly adjust ingredients to your preference. Want more ginger? A different type of chocolate? The power is yours!

Expert Tips for Crafting Perfect Cranberry Bliss Bars

Achieving bakery-quality Cranberry Bliss Bars at home is easier than you think, especially with these helpful tips designed to ensure a smooth process and a delicious outcome:

• PRO-Tip: Bring Ingredients to Room Temperature: This is crucial for a smooth batter and creamy frosting. Pull your butter, eggs, and cream cheese out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to start baking. Room temperature ingredients emulsify much better, leading to a more uniform, lump-free batter and an irresistibly smooth, velvety cream cheese frosting. Cold ingredients can cause clumping and make your mixture harder to combine evenly.
• Sift Your Powdered Sugar for Silky Frosting: Don’t skip this step! Powdered sugar often contains small lumps, which can result in a grainy frosting. Sifting it beforehand removes these lumps, guaranteeing the smoothest, most luxurious cream cheese frosting that will effortlessly spread over your bars.
• Prevent Sticking with a Light Spray: When chopping dried cranberries or crystallized ginger, or when slicing the finished bars, you might find them sticking to your knife. To avoid frustration and messy cuts, simply give your knife a light spray with a non-stick cooking spray like Pam. This creates a barrier that prevents sticky ingredients from clinging to the blade.
• Line Your Baking Pan for Easy Removal: For effortless removal and clean slices, line your baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. Once the bars are baked and completely cooled, you can easily lift the entire slab out of the pan and transfer it to a cutting board. This method is far superior to trying to slice them directly in the pan, which can lead to uneven cuts and damaged edges.
• PRO-Tip: Drizzling White Chocolate Like a Pro: If you don’t have a piping bag and tip readily available, a quart-sized freezer bag works wonderfully for the white chocolate drizzle. Snip off just a tiny part of one corner – start small, you can always make it slightly bigger – and use it to pipe neat lines over your cooled bars. This gives you excellent control for that signature bliss bar look.
• Portioning for Your Needs: This recipe is designed to yield 16 substantial bars. For occasions like cookie exchanges or parties where smaller portions are preferred, you can easily cut them into smaller triangles. Simply cut the rectangles first, then halve each rectangle diagonally to create perfectly sized, bite-sized treats.
• Storage Simplified: Despite the cream cheese frosting, these bars are surprisingly stable at room temperature. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days without refrigeration. This makes them ideal for potlucks or gifts. For longer storage, see the FAQ section below.
• PRO-Tip: Serve at Room Temperature for Best Flavor: If you do refrigerate your Cranberry Bliss Bars, remember to bring them back to room temperature before serving. The flavors and texture are significantly enhanced when they are not cold – the bars will be softer, the frosting creamier, and the full symphony of flavors will truly shine through. They’re still yummy cold, but serving them at room temperature is a game-changer!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Bake Cranberry Bliss Bars

Creating these delightful Cranberry Bliss Bars is a straightforward process when broken down into these simple steps. Follow along for a seamless baking experience:

1. Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to the specified temperature (350°F or 175°C). While the oven heats, prepare your 9×13-inch baking pan by greasing it thoroughly or lining it with non-stick foil or parchment paper, ensuring there’s an overhang for easy removal.
2. Prepare the Bar Batter: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, ground ginger, and salt until well combined. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated and smooth. Gently fold in the diced dried cranberries, chopped white chocolate, and crystallized ginger by hand.
3. Bake to Golden Perfection: Scrape the prepared batter evenly into your lined baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Cool Completely: This step is critical! Allow the baked bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Attempting to frost warm bars will result in a melted, runny mess.
5. Whip Up the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars cool, prepare your luscious cream cheese frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, orange extract, water, and a hint of vanilla until wonderfully smooth and creamy.
6. Frost and Garnish: Once the bars are entirely cool, spread the smooth cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using an offset spatula. Then, generously sprinkle additional chopped dried cranberries over the frosted surface for that signature look and an extra burst of flavor.
7. Drizzle with White Chocolate: For the iconic finishing touch, gently melt the white chocolate, stirring in a touch of vegetable oil for a smoother consistency. Let it cool slightly, then transfer it to a small piping bag or a ziplock bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Drizzle artfully over the cranberry-sprinkled frosting.
8. Set and Slice: Allow the bars to set for several hours, ideally in the refrigerator, to firm up the frosting and drizzle. Once set, lift the cooled slab from the pan using the foil overhang. Cut into rectangular bars first, then cut each rectangle diagonally to create the distinct triangular Cranberry Bliss Bar shape. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions About Cranberry Bliss Bars

More Festive Cranberry Treats You’ll Love: Expanding Your Holiday Baking Repertoire

If you’ve fallen in love with the sweet and tangy goodness of cranberries in these bliss bars, you’ll be thrilled to discover how this vibrant fruit can elevate a variety of other desserts and dishes. Explore these additional cranberry-inspired recipes that are perfect for any occasion, especially during the festive season:

• Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies from The View from Great Island: A classic shortbread gets a zesty, fruity makeover with the bright flavors of cranberry and orange, perfect for tea time or a holiday cookie tray.
• Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars: If you adore the cream cheese frosting, these bars offer a similar creamy indulgence with a different base, ensuring every bite is rich and satisfying.
• Cranberry Bliss Cookies: For those who prefer a traditional cookie format, these replicate the bliss bar flavors in a chewy, delightful cookie.
• Cranberry Fluff Salad: A lighter, refreshing option that combines cranberries with a fluffy, sweet base, ideal for a holiday side dish or a lighter dessert.
• More of the Best Bar Cookie Recipes: Dive deeper into the world of easy-to-make and crowd-pleasing bar cookies with this extensive collection.

The Ultimate Recipe for:

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

Prep Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
35 minutes

Additional Time
1 hour

Total Time
1 hour 55 minutes

Yield
16 large bars

Recreate the festive magic of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars at home with this easy and delicious recipe. These bar cookies feature a rich, buttery blondie base bursting with dried cranberries, chunks of creamy white chocolate, and a delightful hint of crystallized ginger. Each bar is generously topped with a velvety cream cheese frosting, brightened with a touch of orange, and finished with a delicate white chocolate drizzle. Perfect for holidays, special occasions, or simply to treat yourself!

Ingredients for Cranberry Bliss Bars

For the Bars:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger, for that signature warmth
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup diced dried cranberries, adding bursts of tartness
• 6 ounces white chocolate, cut into small chunks or chips, for creamy sweetness
• 2 tablespoons crystallized ginger, finely chopped, for an extra zing

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted, for a smooth consistency 
• 2 teaspoons orange extract (or zest of one orange), for bright citrus notes
• 2 teaspoons water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup diced dried cranberries, for garnish

For the White Chocolate Drizzle:

• 2 ounces chopped white chocolate
• ¼ teaspoon vegetable oil, to ensure a smooth drizzle

Detailed Instructions for Baking Your Bliss Bars

1. Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment paper, ensuring extra overhang on the sides for easy lifting. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and packed light brown sugar with a hand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
3. Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract, ground ginger, baking powder, and salt. Continue beating until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the batter is smooth.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined and a smooth batter forms. Be careful not to overmix, which can lead to tough bars.
5. Fold in Flavorful Add-ins: By hand, gently fold in the ¾ cup of diced dried cranberries, the white chocolate chunks, and the chopped crystallized ginger. Distribute them evenly throughout the batter.
6. Bake the Bars: Scrape the prepared batter into your lined baking pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the batter evenly across the bottom of the pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool Completely: Remove the baked bars from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. This is a crucial step; the bars must be fully cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
8. Prepare the Frosting: While the bars cool, make the cream cheese frosting. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, orange extract, water, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer until the frosting is smooth, creamy, and lump-free.
9. Frost the Bars: Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using an offset spatula. Then, sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of diced dried cranberries over the frosting for a festive finish.
10. Add White Chocolate Drizzle: For the iconic drizzle, melt the 2 ounces of chopped white chocolate gently in the microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth. Stir in the ¼ teaspoon of vegetable oil to thin it slightly for easier drizzling. Let it cool slightly, then transfer the melted chocolate to a small ziplock bag. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag to create a piping hole and drizzle the white chocolate decoratively over the bars.
11. Set and Slice: Allow the frosted and drizzled bars to sit for several hours, or chill them in the refrigerator for about 30-60 minutes, to allow the frosting and drizzle to set. Once set, lift the entire cooled cake from the pan using the foil overhang and place it on a cutting board.
12. Cut into Triangles: To achieve the signature 16 triangular bars, first slice the entire slab lengthwise down the middle. Then, make 3 even slices across the width, creating 8 rectangles. Finally, slice each rectangle diagonally, from one corner to the opposite, to form 16 perfect triangular Cranberry Bliss Bars. Serve and enjoy your homemade masterpiece!

Baker’s Notes for Best Results

Achieving truly exceptional Cranberry Bliss Bars hinges on a few simple details:

Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Always remember that having your butter, eggs, and cream cheese at room temperature is absolutely vital. This ensures seamless incorporation into both the bar batter and the frosting, resulting in a perfectly smooth texture and optimal flavor. Cold ingredients can cause lumps and make your mixing process much harder.

Cooling is Crucial: Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to cooling your bars. Ensure they are completely cool before applying the frosting. A warm bar will melt the frosting, leading to a runny, unappealing mess. A well-chilled bar allows the frosting to set beautifully.

This recipe has been carefully adapted and refined from a classic “Good Eats” foundation, ensuring a reliable and delicious outcome every time.

Recommended Products for Effortless Baking

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. These are products I personally recommend to make your baking experience even better:

• Small Offset Spatula (Indispensable for smooth frosting!)
• Reliable 9 x 13 Baking Pan (A kitchen essential for bar cookies)
• KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer (For perfectly whipped batter and frosting)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 bar

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 432Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 193mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 1gSugar: 51gProtein: 4g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results.

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Your feedback brightens our day! Please leave a comment on the blog below, or share a photo of your beautiful creations on Pinterest and tag us. We can’t wait to see your bliss bars!

These delightful bars have been a cherished part of our holiday traditions for years, bringing joy to countless gatherings. From festive cookie exchanges to simple family treats, they never disappoint. I first shared this recipe in December 2010, and it remained a favorite for our 2021 cookie exchange, proving its timeless appeal. Here’s to many more years of bliss!