Homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars Better Than the Coffee Shop (Copycat)

The moment the aroma of ginger, orange zest, and brown sugar fills my kitchen, I know the holidays have officially arrived. For many of us, that scent is tied directly to the addictive flavor of Cranberry Bliss Bars (copycat). This famous treat is more than just a bar; it’s a holiday tradition. This Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe is my perfected copycat version, achieving that perfect balance of chewy, buttery blondie base, tangy dried cranberries, and creamy, zesty frosting. It’s the perfect festive dish for cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or simply a cozy treat with your morning coffee.

Stress-Free Holiday Treats

These Cranberry Bliss Bars are an excellent make-ahead dessert. Preparing these steps in advance makes assembly a breeze.

• Make the Brown Butter: Brown the butter and allow it to cool completely before mixing it into the batter. This can be done a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
• Whisk Dry Ingredients: Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices together. This ensures even flavor distribution in the final bar.
• Chop the Cranberries: If your dried cranberries are very large, give them a rough chop. This prevents them from sinking to the bottom during baking and helps distribute the flavor evenly.

Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe Card

Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Recipe by Soukayna

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

16

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Calories

320

kcal

These chewy, moist Cranberry Bliss Bars feature a rich blondie base packed with white chocolate and dried cranberries, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

• For the Bars:

• 0.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, browned and cooled

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder

• 0.25 teaspoon salt

• 0.5 teaspoon ground ginger

• 0.75 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 0.5 cup white chocolate chips

• 0.3 cup dried cranberries, chopped

• For the Frosting & Topping:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 0.25 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1.5 cups powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon orange zest (or lemon zest)

• 0.25 cup dried cranberries, for garnish

• 0.25 cup melted white chocolate (for drizzle)

Directions

• Prep the Batter Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and ginger. In a large bowl, beat the cooled brown butter with the brown sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth.
• Fold and Bake Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips and the chopped dried cranberries. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the edges are set and golden.
• Cool Completely Cool the bars completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours.
• Make the Frosting In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
• Frost and Garnish Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Drizzle the melted white chocolate across the top. Sprinkle the remaining dried cranberries over the frosting. Chill for 30 minutes before cutting into squares or triangles.

Notes

• The Brown Sugar Effect: Using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar gives the bars a deep, moist, chewy texture similar to a classic blondie.
• High-Quality White Chocolate: Use high-quality white chocolate chips or chopped baking bars. Cheap white chocolate often melts poorly and lacks true cocoa butter flavor.
• Freezing: You can freeze the baked and cooled Cranberry Bliss Bars (unfrosted) wrapped tightly for up to 2 months. Thaw, then frost and garnish before serving.

Nutrition Facts

• Fat: 16g
• Sodium: 110mg
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Protein: 3g

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Why This Copycat Recipe is Pure Bliss

This Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe stands above the rest because we focus on layering key textures and flavors that are often missing in other copycat versions.

1. The Brown Butter Base: Instead of just melted butter, we use brown butter in the blondie batter. Browning the butter adds a deep, nutty, caramel flavor that provides complexity and prevents the bar from being overly sweet. It gives the base a professional, chewy richness.
2. Triple Citrus Zest: The “bliss” comes from the combination of flavors. We use orange zest in the bar, and lemon zest in the cream cheese frosting, and a splash of vanilla in both. This bright citrus pairing is the secret ingredient that balances the sweetness of the white chocolate.
3. Perfect Cranberry Distribution: We fold the white chocolate chips and cranberries into the batter gently, but we also reserve some for sprinkling on top just before baking. This ensures beautiful visual appeal and a caramelized crunch on the surface.

This bar recipe can be easily adapted. For a gluten-free Cranberry Bliss Bars version, use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend. For a nuttier flavor, swap half of the butter for coconut oil. The recipe is highly versatile.

Achieving the Chewy Texture

To ensure your homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars achieve that coveted chewy texture and perfect flavor, heed these expert tips.

• Do Not Overbake: These bars should be slightly soft in the center when you pull them out. The edges should be golden brown, but the middle should still look a little underdone. They will continue to set as they cool, ensuring a moist, chewy center. The baking time is crucial, as noted by King Arthur Baking.
• The Golden Ratio of Cranberries: Use a mix of dried cranberries in the bar and fresh or frozen cranberries in a light sugar glaze on top of the frosting. This gives you two different textures and levels of tartness.
• Cool Completely Before Frosting: It is non-negotiable—the bars must be completely cooled to room temperature before applying the cream cheese frosting. If they are even slightly warm, the frosting will melt and slide off.
• Clean Cuts: For the cleanest, prettiest cuts (which is essential for these bars), chill the fully frosted bars for at least 30 minutes. Use a large, sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry between each cut.

Spicing Strategy

The classic spice profile in Cranberry Bliss Bars includes a warm blend of ginger and cinnamon. A small pinch of allspice or cardamom can elevate the flavor even further, adding an unexpected, sophisticated twist to the classic sweetness of the bar.

Next Level Cranberry Bliss Bars

Gingerbread Spiced Bliss Bars

Elevate the holiday flavor by adding 1 teaspoon of molasses and 1/2 teaspoon of extra ground ginger to the blondie batter. Replace the white chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips. Use the same cream cheese frosting, but dust the top with a mix of ground cinnamon and powdered sugar before adding the cranberries. This creates a richer, deeper-flavored bar.

Lemon Blueberry Bliss Bars

Transition this bar to a summer treat. Omit the ginger and use lemon zest exclusively in the bar base. Swap the dried cranberries for dried blueberries. Frost with the same cream cheese icing, but finish the top with a thin lemon glaze and fresh blueberries instead of the traditional cranberry garnish. This offers a bright, refreshing flavor profile.

Pecan Praline Bliss Bars

For those who love nuts, replace half of the white chocolate chips with toasted, chopped pecans. Top the cream cheese frosting with a layer of caramelized brown sugar and pecan brittle, creating a crunchy, southern-inspired finish. The pecans provide a rich contrast to the tangy cream cheese.

These bars are great, but for a classic cookie, try my recipe for Chewy Ginger Cookies.

Fixing Your Frosting

The Sweetest Ending

These homemade Cranberry Bliss Bars are truly a holiday hero. They capture all the chewy texture, bright flavor, and decadent richness of the bakery classic, all thanks to the simple addition of brown butter and strategic citrus zest. They are easy to make, travel well, and are always the first treat to disappear from any holiday platter.