Description
Indulgent cranberry bliss bars emerge as a delightful holiday treat, blending sweet and tangy flavors. Creamy white chocolate, zesty cranberries, and rich spices create a mouthwatering dessert you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
Blondie Base:
- 1.5 cups (340 grams) salted butter
- 1.5 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 0.75 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoons salt
- 0.125 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Main Ingredients:
- 0.5 cups dried cranberries
- 6 ounces (170 grams) white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 6 ounces (170 grams) white baking chocolate, melted
- 0.5 cups dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and coat a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray for even release.
- Microwave butter until melted, then blend with brown sugar in a large mixing bowl, allowing the mixture to cool slightly.
- Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture using an electric mixer until well combined.
- Separately whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to create a uniform dry ingredient blend.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just incorporated to prevent overmixing.
- Carefully fold dried cranberries and white chocolate pieces into the batter, ensuring even distribution.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface with a spatula for uniform thickness.
- Bake for 18-21 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean when inserted into the center.
- Allow the blondies to cool completely on a wire rack, which helps set the texture and prevents soggy edges.
- Prepare the frosting by beating cream cheese and powdered sugar until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Gradually blend half of the melted white chocolate into the frosting, creating a rich and glossy topping.
- Once cooled, spread the frosting evenly across the blondie surface using an offset spatula.
- Garnish with additional dried cranberries and drizzle remaining white chocolate over the top for visual appeal.
- Slice into 30 uniform bars, either as squares or triangles, and refrigerate until serving time.
Notes
- Check butter temperature carefully to ensure smooth blending without curdling when mixing with eggs.
- Use high-quality white chocolate for richer, more authentic flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
- Chop cranberries finely to distribute flavor evenly and prevent large chunks disrupting the bar’s texture.
- Adjust baking time by 1-2 minutes depending on your oven’s unique heating characteristics to prevent over or underbaking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg