Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Printable)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, crowned with zesty orange cream cheese frosting

# 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 to 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 without 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 to 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 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 cream cheese frosting brings a bright, unexpected contrast to the buttery base that feels both festive and comforting.
  • You can make these a day ahead and they actually taste better after the flavors settle overnight in the fridge.
  • They look fancy enough for a holiday party but come together with pantry staples and zero fuss.
  • Every bite has little pockets of tart cranberry and melty white chocolate that keep things interesting.
02 -
  • If you skip the parchment paper overhang, you'll struggle to get the bars out cleanly and end up with crumbled edges stuck to the pan.
  • Overmixing the batter after adding the flour makes the bars tough and chewy instead of light and tender, so stir gently and stop as soon as the flour disappears.
  • Frosting warm bars will turn your beautiful orange cream cheese layer into a soupy mess that slides off and pools on the plate.
03 -
  • Freeze the unfrosted bars for up to three months, then thaw and frost them the day you plan to serve so they taste freshly made.
  • If you want extra orange flavor, brush the cooled bars with a tablespoon of orange juice before you frost them, and the citrus will soak right in.
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly and create a smooth, professional-looking finish.
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