Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Printable Version)

Buttery bars filled with dried cranberries and white chocolate, crowned with tangy orange cream cheese frosting and a sweet drizzle.

# 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 orange juice

→ Topping

16 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
17 - 1/3 cup white chocolate, melted

# Steps to Follow:

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 3-5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well 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 without overmixing.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan, smoothing 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 the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper 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 over the bars.
12 - Sprinkle with additional chopped dried cranberries if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top using spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The bars keep beautifully for days, actually improving after 24 hours as the cranberry flavor deepens into something even more extraordinary.
  • That moment when someone bites into one for the first time and their eyes widen in surprise at how the tangy orange cream cheese frosting complements the buttery base is worth every minute of baking.
02 -
  • Cooling completely before frosting is crucial, or youll end up with a sad, melted mess that slides right off your beautiful bars, a lesson I learned the hard way during a rush job for a bake sale.
  • The key to clean-cut bars is to chill them for at least 30 minutes after frosting and before cutting, which firms everything up and prevents that messy squished look.
03 -
  • Line your knife with parchment paper when cutting these bars to prevent the frosting from sticking, then peel it off for perfectly clean edges worthy of a bakery display case.
  • Reserve a small portion of chopped cranberries to press into the frosting before it sets, creating visual appeal while also signaling to guests what flavors await them.
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