Lean in close everyone, I’m going to tell you a little secret: I love Starbucks at Christmas time. The festive cups and the special drinks, Peppermint Mocha, Eggnog Latte, Salted Carmel. I’m craving one, any one, right now! But what I crave most is their Cranberry Bliss Bars.
BLISS
noun
1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment: wedded bliss.
2.Theology. the joy of heaven.
3. heaven; paradise: the road to eternal bliss.
4. Archaic. a cause of great joy or happiness .
I think Webster’s says it all! The only problem with these bars is I have to drive all the way to Starbucks to get one! And what if I want more than one? And so…the search began.
What sent me in search of the recipe was not just my love of them. It was also my love for my brother-in-law, Vinnie. When Vinnie had heart surgery, my husband went to help him through some of his recovery. While he was there, he brought Vinnie a Cranberry Bliss Bar from Starbucks. (I know, I may not have thought to bring a cookie bar to someone recovering from heart surgery either.) Vinnie fell in love with them. So when he was well enough to come visit us the following holiday season, I went in search of a recipe so I could try to mimic them at home. I knew they wouldn’t be as good but..then I found this recipe and decided to try it. It’s not just good, it’s not just close to the real thing, it’s right on! Hey, they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? These are the PERFECT make-at-home version of one of my favorite things. When Vinnie arrived at our house, I made a batch. He was so happy. He couldn’t believe I had recreated them just for him. Success!
Cranberry Bliss Bars
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons orange extract
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
3/4 white chocolate chips
1 container cream cheese frosting
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
Topping:
1/3 cup craisins, chopped
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1/3 cup white chocolate chips, melted
Preheat the oven to 350. Spray your 9×13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a mixing bowl, beat together softened butter with the brown and granulated sugars until well blended. Add in eggs and orange extract being careful not to over beat the eggs. Add flour, baking powder, and ginger and mix until just blended. By hand, mix in the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and toothpick test comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
Put frosting in mixing bowl. Add in 1 teaspoon of orange extract and blend. When bars are cool spread frosting evenly over them. Sprinkle with chopped craisins, orange zest, and drizzle with melted white chocolate. Cut into triangles and serve.
They are perfect for any cookie exchange, pot luck, holiday cookie sale, or just for your family. And what’s easier to make than a bar cookie right? So please try them and I’m sure, just like Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, this will become one of your holiday traditions. This is Christmas in a bite. Try them and find out just what BLISS tastes like.
Leave a Reply