Cranberry Bliss Bars
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen bars
Prep Time: 35 min
Cook Time: 20 min + cooling time
A white- chocolate cranberry blondies recipe that is very reminiscent
of Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss Bars.
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
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9-inch
baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Prepare the blondie layer: In a medium bowl, melt butter
for one minute in the microwave; stir in brown sugar. Scrape the butter &
sugar into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Use an electric mixer
to beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour,
baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter
mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate (the batter will be
thick).
3. Spread the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for
18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do
not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric
mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well-blended. Gradually
add half of the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost brownies.
Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut
into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Store in the refrigerator until ready to
serve.
