Description
Delicious Cranberry Bliss Bars featuring a moist and flavorful base filled with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped with a creamy and tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly balanced with sweet and tart flavors, these bars are a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bars
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy using an electric mixer on medium speed, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Fold in Cranberries and Chocolate: Gently fold in the chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Prepare Frosting: While the bars bake, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Vanilla to Frosting: Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, mixing until fluffy and spreadable.
- Cool Bars: Let the bars cool completely in the baking dish on a wire rack before frosting.
- Frost Bars: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the additional chopped dried cranberries on top of the frosted bars for a festive and flavorful finish.
- Serve: Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the baking dish, slice, and serve.
Notes
- Ensure butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother frosting.
- Do not overmix batter to keep bars light and tender.
- Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal of bars from baking dish.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For a festive touch, you can drizzle melted white chocolate on top after frosting.
