Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Printable)

Buttery bars loaded with cranberries, topped with zesty orange frosting and white chocolate 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:

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 until fully combined.
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. Avoid 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 pan for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment and transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
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 cool, spread frosting evenly over bars.
12 - Sprinkle with additional chopped dried cranberries if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The orange frosting cuts through the sweetness in a way that makes you reach for a second square without guilt.
  • They look fancy enough for a cookie exchange but come together faster than most drop cookies.
  • The bars stay moist for days, which means you can bake ahead and actually enjoy your own party.
02 -
  • If you skip the parchment overhang, you will spend ten frustrated minutes trying to lift the first bar out in one piece.
  • Melting white chocolate in long microwave bursts turns it into a grainy, seized mess; use 15-second intervals and stir obsessively.
  • The bars taste better the next day after the flavors settle and the frosting sets, so resist the urge to cut them warm.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to spread the frosting in one smooth motion instead of going back and forth, which drags up crumbs.
  • If your white chocolate seizes while melting, stir in a teaspoon of vegetable oil to bring it back to a drizzle-able consistency.
  • Chop the cranberries smaller than you think you need to; big chunks can make the bars harder to cut cleanly.
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