Have you ever wished you could have cranberry bliss bars year round, or any time the craving hits? Well, now you can! I have found the ultimate homemade version and had to make this blog post to share the wonderful news. This white chocolate cranberry blondie recipe is such an amazing copycat of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars. They have the same delicious chewy blondie base with a crunch from the white chocolate chunks, and the perfect infusion of orange zest in the cream cheese frosting. Also – lots of sweet and flavorful dried cranberries!

These Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars have:

• A soft and chewy blondie base full of white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries
• An incredible cream cheese frosting make with orange zest and melted white chocolate
• A drizzle of white chocolate over the icing
• The added bonus of freezing well, ensuring you have a stash of these blondies on hand at all times!

Recipe used for the Copycat Starbucks White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies:

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies – recipe by Taste of Home

After searching the web for copycat recipes of Starbucks cranberry bliss bars and scouring the comment sections, this recipe by Taste of Home was the winner with highly rated feedback!

I can reaffirm the positive comments and ratings by saying I don’t miss the original Starbucks version one bit after making these. They truly are a spot on, flavorful, homemade copycat! I’ve made these bars two years in a row and have not felt the need to pick up an original version from Starbucks since!

Why I love this white chocolate cranberry blondie recipe:

• The cream cheese frosting is incredible – This cream cheese frosting is sweet (but not too much), fresh, and completely reminiscent of the Starbucks bars. It is made with melted white chocolate, cream cheese, orange zest, powdered sugar, and dried cranberries. All of those flavors combined are just as delicious as they sound. 
• The blondie base is chewy – Nothing is worse than a dry blondie. I was pleasantly surprised to find that so long as you don’t over-bake the bars, they turn out perfectly soft and chewy.
• They are simple to make– No complicated steps or equipment required here. This recipe is easy to follow and requires minimal ingredients. 
• The various textures – I absolutely love the variety of textures in these blondie bars.
  • You have a delicious chew from the soft blondie base and the cranberries.
  • You have a crunch from the white chocolate chunks in the blondie base.
  • All of this is topped with a rich and creamy frosting that has additional chopped cranberries incorporated. If you are a fan of desserts that are multi-layered in textures and flavors – these white chocolate cranberry blondies are for you!

Tips for making the copycat cranberry bliss bars:

1. Line your pan with parchment paper – Lining your pan will ensure easy removal of the bars from the pan, without them cracking or sticking to the edges.
2. Don’t overbake the blondies! I cannot stress this enough – keep a close eye on the blondies. As soon as a toothpick comes out clean, remove them from the oven. This will keep them soft and chewy. If they are over-baked, they will be more dry and cakey. Check them at the 18 minute mark or even sooner.
3. Use the orange zest – The recipe lists orange zest as optional, however I cannot recommend enough that you add it. The original Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars have orange zest incorporated in their frosting, which helps add an uplifting and bright flavor that is a perfect compliment to the cranberries and white chocolate. 
4. Make them ahead/freeze the leftovers– Wrap extra blondies (if any remain) in plastic wrap and store in an air tight container in the freezer. They taste just as good as new after thawing!

Display your copycat white chocolate cranberry blondies in a festive Christmas tree design!

A fun way to serve and display these blondies at a holiday gathering is to arrange them into the shape of a Christmas tree. Organize the triangles into a tree shape, find a star or ornament to place at the top, and a piece of a chocolate bar for the trunk – that’s it!

It doesn’t take much elbow grease when it comes to assembling the display, but guests will be taken aback by the unique, fun, and cheerful arrangement!

These Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss bars have all the elements of the original version you could ask for. They have a luscious frosting made from cream cheese, orange zest, and white chocolate. The blondie base has its iconic chew mixed with a crunch from white chocolate chunks and sweetness from dried cranberries. 

The best part is that you can now enjoy them year round (the bars freeze well), without a trip to your local Starbucks. They are wonderful to serve at the holidays or as a fun surprise for friends, family, and neighbors. Anyone that loves a sweet treat will be ecstatic to receive them. Especially someone that knows the original version – they may not even realize it is a homemade replica unless you let them in on the secret!

If you are like I was and are skeptical of whether a copycat version of these Starbucks bars can hold its own – please give this recipe a try and let me know if you also are also floored at how fantastic they are!

If you like this recipe, I think you’ll also love:

• Mini Pecan Pie Cheesecakes with Boozy Maple Whipped Cream
• Christmas Cookie Box ideas
• Chewy Maple Cinnamon Cookies with White Chocolate
• Oreo Cookie Topped Brownies

Behind the Scenes Video:

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

Recipe by AshleyCourse: Brownies/Bars, Copycat Desserts, Festive Treats, Thanksgiving/Christmas

Servings

3

dozen bars

Prep time

35

minutes

Cooking time

18

minutes

These white chocolate cranberry blondies are a copycat of Starbucks’ cranberry bliss bars – chewy blondies full of white chocolate chunks and dried cranberries, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting!

Ingredients

• 1 batch White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies by Taste of Home

• Helpful Tools

• Parchment paper

• Large chef’s knife

Directions

• Begin by lining your 9 x 13 metal pan with parchment paper. This will allow the blondies to be removed from the pan with ease.
• Follow the recipe linked above exactly.
  
• Recipe Tips:
• Do not over-mix once you add the flour, as this can lead to dense and dry blondies. Fold in the flour until just incorporated using a spatula.
• Check the blondies early at the 18 minute mark with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they are done.
• Wait until the blondies have fully cooled to frost them.
• To achieve clean slices of blondies:
• Chill the blondies in the refrigerator before cutting them into slices. The white chocolate and frosting will be more firm.
• Use a large, sharp chef’s knife. My favorite knife for cutting brownies and blondies is this one by Farberware.
• Run your knife under hot water between slices, and wipe it off after each as well.

Notes

• Chilling the blondies before cutting them will result in cleaner slices.
• Include the orange zest! It is part of Starbuck’s original recipe and adds a brightness to the icing.
• Freeze extras by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in an air-tight container.

Pin for later!

If you make this dessert or have any questions, please leave a comment below! I absolutely love hearing when others are inspired to step into their kitchen and try out something new.

Happy Baking!

XOXO,