Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Allison · 57 Comments

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You’ll love these copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars! Soft blondies, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and cream cheese frosting.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (1)

Get ready to make friends – these Cranberry Bliss Bars are a huge crowd favorite. If you’ve had a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar, then you know how great this flavor combo is – white chocolate and dried cranberries are a match made in heaven! These are a replica of the Starbucks bars, but I actually like them better! Plus, it’s way more affordable to whip these up at home.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (2)

Recipe overview

  1. Blondies: Soft and chewy brown sugar blondies filled with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. This blondie batter comes together in minutes, no mixer needed.
  2. Cream cheese frosting: This sweet and tangy frosting gets spread over the top of the brownies, with an option to add orange zest to bump up the flavor.
  3. Topping: A sprinkle of tart and chewy dried cranberries and a drizzle of melted white chocolate are the perfect finishing touch for this recipe.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (3)

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Ease: The blondie batter and frosting come together in about 5 minutes (plus 20 minutes hands off bake time). Easy peasy!
  • Flavor: Brown sugar blondies, tangy cream cheese frosting, tart dried cranberries, and sweet white chocolate. This flavor combo is incredible!
  • Festive: The red and white colors makes these bars perfect for the holiday season; they look fantastic on a holiday cookie plate!

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (4)

Recipe tips

  • My number one tip is NOT to over-bake the blondies. The top of the bars should be dry with the center just slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven. They will continue to cook a bit as they cool. We’re going for soft and tender bars – not dry and hard.
  • Allow enough time for the blondies to cool completely before topping with frosting.
  • When melting white chocolate for the topping make sure that you melt the white chocolate very slowly. It can go from melted to lumpy in a matter of seconds.
  • Feel free to swap the dried cranberries for dried cherries.

Serving and storage

  • Serving: Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature. The colder the bars are the firmer they will be. I like to keep them at room temp for an hour or two before serving.
  • Storage: Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. I would assume that you could freeze these, but I haven’t tried it.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (5)

More holiday desserts

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Ginger Molasses Cookies
Toffee Bars
Cranberry Cake

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Recipe

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (6)

Cranberry Bliss Bars

You'll love these copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars! Soft blondies, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and cream cheese frosting.

4.87 from 37 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Dessert

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 380kcal

Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Bars:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup white chocolate chips

Frosting:

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ⅓ cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • milk, to thin
  • teaspoon finely grated orange zest, optional

Topping:

  • ¼ cup white chocolate chips, melted (see note)
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

Bars:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x11 pan with foil and grease the foil.

  • In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until well combined, at least one full minute. Add egg and vanilla extract, whisk until combined.

  • In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until the ingredients are combined. Stir in ½ cup of dried cranberries and ½ cup of white chocolate chips.

  • Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer (I moisten the palm of my hand with water and gently press it in).

  • Bake for 18-22 minutes. The bars are done when they have puffed slightly, are very light brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. They will appear a little underdone but they will continue to cook as they cool. Be careful not to over bake them. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Frosting:

  • Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest (if using) and beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add a splash of milk, if necessary, to thin the frosting. You can also thicken the frosting by adding a bit more powdered sugar, if necessary.

  • Spread the bars with the frosting . Scatter the dried cranberries on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cranberries.

Video

Notes

MELTING WHITE CHOCOLATE: You can melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in a double boiler. If you use the microwave you have to melt it very slowly. I put it in for 10-15 seconds at a time and stir well between each interval. I have the best luck with good quality white chocolate. I typically use Guittard or Ghirardelli. You can also use white chocolate melting wafers for the topping.

PAN SIZE: Do not try to squeeze this batter into an 8x8 pan. The edges of the bars will dry out before the center cooks through.

STORAGE: Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

SERVING: Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature. The colder the bars are the firmer they will be. I like to keep them at room temp for an hour or two before serving.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 444IU | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (7) Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

*Recipe updated December 2020*

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Comments

  1. Ashley

    Do you let them cool in the pan, or take them out?

    Reply

    • Allison

      Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Bwwe4480

    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (8)
    Tasted spot on, will be making again!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Heidi Bartell

    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (9)
    My go-to recipe! Delicious!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Sheryl Todd

    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (10)
    These are great! I made them but mine needed 5 more minutes to bake.

    Reply

  5. Paula

    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (11)
    I am not a huge fan of blondies nor of cranberries, but since I do enjoy the Starbucks version, I decided to make actual brownies, adding dried cherries and the Ghiradelli’s (sp?) white chips. This is now my new go-to treat for home and when I am tasked with dessert for a potluck. I will, however, make both versions for Christmas this year as I am the only weirdo in the family!!

    Reply

  6. Kim

    Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (12)
    Fantastic! Super easy!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply

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Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (easy recipe) - Celebrating Sweets (13)Hi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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FAQs

What are the ingredients in Starbucks cranberry bliss bars? ›

Wheat flour, Sugars [brown sugar, sucrose, maltodextrin], Cream cheese [pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, carob bean gum, guar gum], Butter, White confectionery coating [sugar, vegetable oils, whey powder, skim milk powder, soy lecithin, natural flavour, vanilla], Cranberries [cranberries, sugar, ...

How long can you keep Starbucks cranberry bliss bars in the fridge? ›

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Is the Cranberry Bliss bar seasonal? ›

Cranberry bliss bars are a seasonal treat at Starbucks—but when you make them at home, it's bliss bar season all year long! If you're looking for the perfect easy homemade treat to make for your office holiday potluck or gifting to friends and family, you've found it.

What is the cranberry thing at Starbucks? ›

Melt away the holiday chill with the sweet and tart flavors of whole dried cranberries in layers of creamy milk chocolate. They pair well with a range of beverages, from Central and South American coffees to lattes, mochas and more.

Do Starbucks cranberry bliss bars need to be refrigerated? ›

Do Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Need to be Refrigerated? One of the most pressing questions regarding this recipe is whether or not they need to be refrigerated after baking. The answer is yes. They will keep better in the refrigerator and especially since it has the cream cheese frosting on top.

Are there nuts in cranberry bliss bars? ›

The Starbucks version of the cranberry bliss bars does not have nuts. My recipe does not have nuts in the batter, but I add chopped pistachios to the topping.

Can cranberry bliss bars be frozen? ›

Yes, because of the cream cheese in the frosting. Can you freeze cranberry bliss bars? Yes, they will last in the freezer, well wrapped, for 2-3 months.

Can you freeze bliss bars? ›

Yes, Cranberry Bliss Bars freeze nicely! Place the bars in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to two months. Thaw the bars overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Can cranberry bliss bars be left out? ›

Garnish: After frosting, but before the white chocolate drizzle sets, sprinkle the additional chopped cranberries on top. This ensures they stick to the bars. Storage: Remember that the cream cheese frosting means these bars should be stored in the refrigerator if not consumed within a few hours.

Do cranberry bliss bars go bad? ›

If adding the cream cheese frosting, store Cranberry Bliss Bars in the refrigerator, covered. They will last up to 5 days. If not adding the frosting, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

How long do cranberry bliss bars last? ›

How long are cranberry bliss bars good for? These are best stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container with parchment paper or plastic wrap between each layer. They will keep for about 5 days. You can store them tightly wrapped in the freezer for up to two months.

How many cranberry bliss bars are in a tray? ›

The tray comes with 6 bars.

What is in a pink lady at Starbucks? ›

Starbucks Pink Drink is a light and refreshing beverage that features the sweet flavors of Strawberry Acai Refreshers® with accents of passion fruit and acai combined with Coconutmilk, and topped with a scoop of strawberries.

What is a Blondie called at Starbucks? ›

Starbucks® Blonde Vanilla Latte: Starbucks Coffee Company.

What is the lady on Starbucks? ›

“It's the siren. She is not a real person, but we kind of think of her as one. She's the biggest symbol of our brand, really, other than our partners (employees). She's the face of it,” Steve Murray said.

Does the Cranberry Bliss bar have dairy? ›

“Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Enzyme, Folic Acid], Brown Sugar, Cream Cheese [Pasteurized Milk And Cream, Cheese Culture, Salt, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum], Butter [Cream], White Confectionery Coating[Sugar, Palm Kernel And Palm Oils, Whey Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, ...

Are Craisins dried cranberries? ›

Dried cranberries may be marketed as craisins due to the similarity in appearance with raisins, although the word "Craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray. Craisins were introduced as part of a packaged cereal produced by Ralston Purina in 1989.

Is Starbucks Refresha vegan? ›

Vegan Starbucks Drinks

Refresha Drinks – The Strawberry Acai, Pink Coconut and Cool Lime flavours are vegan. Frappuccinos – Coffee, Mocha, Espresso, Vanilla Cream, Strawberries and Cream and Chocolate Cream flavours are vegan with dairy alternative milks and vegan whipped cream.

What is the violet drink at Starbucks made of? ›

What's included. The sweet blackberries and tart hibiscus flavor of our Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers® beverage swirl together with creamy coconutmilk and ice, creating refreshing (and violet-hued!)

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