Cranberry Bliss Bars By: Siobhan

 

For those of you who are Starbucks fans or blondie/brownie fans, this is the perfect recipe. This recipe is from the Recipe Girl website. They taste even better than the Starbucks cranberry bars. These are absolutely delicious and don't require too much time. I made them for a New Year's treat. 

Ingredients

BLONDIE LAYER:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

For the blondies...

Cut your butter into cubes. This will allow it to melt totally evenly. Melt the butter for one minute in the microwave.

 Stir in the brown sugar. Allow it to cool to room temperature.

 Opt: Sift your flour before adding it to the bowl.

  Whisk together your dry ingredients.

 Add eggs and vanilla to room temperature brown sugar/butter mixture and beat with electric mixer.

 

Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined. Mixture will be thick.

 Stir in the 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and 6 oz. of the white chocolate.

 Spread in pan and bake 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the frosting...

 Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add half of the remaining melted white chocolate chips gradually. Beat until blended. Frost the cooled brownies. Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining white chocolate. Cut into bars or triangles.