Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Frosting (Printable Version)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with zesty orange cream cheese frosting and a decadent white chocolate 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 fresh 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, beat 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 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 ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined without overmixing.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula with gentle strokes.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared baking pan, smoothing the top surface to ensure uniform thickness.
08 - Bake for 25 to 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 spreadable consistency is achieved.
11 - Once bars are completely cooled, spread frosting evenly across the entire surface.
12 - Sprinkle additional chopped dried cranberries over frosting if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut bars into uniform squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting tastes like sunshine in the middle of winter, bright and creamy without being cloying.
  • You can mix the batter in one bowl and skip the fuss of layering or chilling, making it perfect for busy weekends.
  • They hold up beautifully in tins or on trays, so you can bake once and gift them everywhere.
  • The white chocolate drizzle looks fancy but takes about ninety seconds and zero skill.
02 -
  • Softening the butter and cream cheese is non negotiable; cold ingredients will leave you with lumps and an uneven batter.
  • Chopping the cranberries before folding them in distributes their tartness more evenly and prevents big pockets of sour.
  • Cooling the bars completely before frosting is the difference between a beautiful presentation and a melted mess.
  • Melting white chocolate slowly in short bursts prevents it from seizing into a grainy clump.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly without tearing the bars underneath.
  • If your white chocolate seizes while melting, stir in a teaspoon of vegetable oil to bring it back to a smooth, drizzle able consistency.
  • Let the bars sit at room temperature for fifteen minutes before slicing if theyve been chilled, so the frosting doesnt crack.
  • Zest the orange before you juice it; its much easier when the fruit is whole.
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