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Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars



A twist on a bar that you can get from a popular chain coffee shop but with a twist. These bars have dried cranberries, orange zest, white chocolate and cream cheese buttercream.
Thanksgiving is just days away, when I post this, I saw that I haven't made anything that contains a staple in Thanksgiving. Cranberries.
I didn't want to just make something with just cranberries because they can be tart.
What's a great pairing with cranberries you ask? Orange. It cuts some of the tartness and adds a sweetness.
These bars have a blondie bottom, which is like a brownie without chocolate. Well these have chocolate but white chocolate.
Also have tons of cranberries, you will have them in every bite, sweet orange zest with the cranberries, white chocolate and cream cheese buttercream.
Bring these bars to a party as a little snack before the big feast or have them with tea and/or coffee.
 

Recipes you may like:
Maple Pumpkin Pie Cobbler
Cranberry Orange Muffies
Spiced Cranberry Orange Doughnut Muffins


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Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars

Time
Prep: 10 minutes
Baking: 25 to 30 minutes


Ingredients

Cranberry Orange Bars
1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
3 cups Unbleached All Purpose Flour
2 cups Light Brown Sugar, packed
4 eggs, room temperature
1 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
2 cups Dried Cranberries
3 Tablespoons Orange Zest, 1 to 2 Oranges
1 Tablespoon Orange Juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
1 1/2 cups White Chocolate Chips

Cream Cheese Buttercream
6 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
3 1/2 cups Confectioners' Sugar
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
1 teaspoon Orange Zest
2 Tablespoon Orange Juice
1/4 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
1 cup White Chocolate Chips, for topping
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries, for garnishing

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cover medium size cookie sheet, about 11 by 17, with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups flour, ground ginger, salt and baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Scarp the sides.
3. Add in vanilla, orange juice and eggs, one at a time.  Scrap the sides. Add in orange zest. Mix until well incorporated.
4. Slowly add in flour mixture until well incorporated. In a separate bowl, toss the last 1/2 cup of flour, chocolate chips and cranberries. Fold into the butter-mixture.
5. Smooth over prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. You may need to cover the top from brownie too much. Place pan on a wired and let cool on the pan for 10 to 15 minutes. Slide it off the pan and let it cool on the wired rack with just the parchment completely.
6. While the bars cool, beat together cream cheese, vanilla and butter until creamy and smooth. Slowly add in confectioners' sugar a cup at a time. Add orange juice and orange zest. Scrap the sides until smooth.
7. Smooth buttercream over cooled bars. Sprinkle more cranberries then cut into triangles or squares. You may need to place in the fridge if it is warm in your kitchen for the buttercream to set. Drizzle white chocolate over and let it set for about 30 minutes. Store in a cool area.
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Comments

  1. Delicious! You got me at Cranberry and Cream cheese. I love that combination. This recipe is a definite must try for Thanksgiving. Great post!

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  2. These look delicious! Perfect for the holidays!

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  3. I'm loving all the festive recipes you've been posting!! These sound delicious - especially with the white chocolate, I'm a real fan of the combination of white chocolate and fruit! Charlie xo
    https://thebarefootangel.com

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  4. These look absolutely delicious. I may have to try this recipe out soon.

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  5. Your food looks so yummy! As usual, your recipes are super easy to veganise and I know my family would love this in the run up to Christmas :)

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  6. What a yummy treat!! Great for Thanksgiving!

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  7. I think these would be perfect for a holiday cookie exchange!

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  8. THese look absolutely delicious. I am keeping a note of this recipe. Can’t wait to try it

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  9. Oh! This homemade version looks amazing! I'm definitely making these SOON!

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  10. Love all these flavors! Looks like a perfect holiday treat!

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  11. Delicious recipe! These would be good for the holidays, but that would mean I'd have to share...

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  12. OMG! These are my favourite thing from Starbucks! Cannot wait to try and make them at home. I love the orange addition. YUM!

    https://teaspoonofadventure.com

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  13. I need to make these for the office party!

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  14. Oh! my... Wish those are right in front of me.. They look absolutely delicious.

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  15. Bliss bars is the perfect name! These look so delicious - like melt in your mouth holiday goodness!

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  16. Yummy! All my favorite things in one dessert!

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  17. Oh my goodness this looks incredible! I need to make this asap with my family

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  18. These look so good! So perfect for the holidays!

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  19. Anything that I can hold in my hand and take a bite from is always a go for me so these bars are totally my kind of snack. They look so good.

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  20. I love the idea of cranberries and white chocolate. It is the perfect complying sheet and tart

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  21. These sound delicious! I love the combination of cranberry and orange. And that cream cheese frosting looks amazing!

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  22. These look divine!!! And a perfect treat to try this holiday season the frosting looks scrumptious!! I'll have to try this for a thanksgiving treat!! xo - Kam

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  23. Oh wow! These look ahhhhhmazing!!

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  24. Your recipes are all really mouth-watering and look absolutely delicious! If I had more time and resources, I would want to make many of these recipes! You have a creative way with cooking and baking delicious desserts!

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  25. I get obsessed with cranberry during the holidays so these bars are essential

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  26. You had me at cranberries! I love a great recipe that includes cranberries and orange. These look like they would travel really well, too!

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  27. I love that this has such a short prep time. The cranberries make it a perfect fit for Thanksgiving.

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  28. Oh my goodness my mouth is watering looking at it! Definitely trying this one day.
    Ebony x

    www.theblackandwhiteguide.com

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  29. Wao!!! The pictures look so Yummm.. I should try making this .. but surely ill send this recipe to my sister she loves desserts <3
    She cooks great ..
    Thanks for sharing dear <3

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  30. I absolutely love the idea of pairing oranges and cranberries together in a pastry! I feel like the softer sweetness from a citrus fruit would really nicely balance the tartness from the cranberries.

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  31. These look so yummy! I love the idea of cranberry and orange together.

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  32. These look like to most delicious cranberry orange bliss bars I've ever seen! Wow, the idea of mixing both fruits together is absolutely genius! Thanks for sharing this sweet recipe!

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  33. Cranberry & Orange is always such a great combination! (I make an amazing orange-spiced cranberry sauce.) These scones looks so delicious!!

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  34. These look amazing! I will definitely need to give them a try!

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  35. Looks delicious! The recipe looks easy enough even for a non-baker like me, I am a constant burner of baked goods! Did you find it took some practice before it was presentable to the fam? I'd def need a try or two to not burn it!

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    1. Not really. If you find it burns bake it at a lower temp and keep an eye on it.

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  36. I love the combination of orange and cranberry flavors! That drizzled frosting and the moist inside is calling to me! These look perfect for my family baking exchange!

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  37. I love anything with white chocolate, and the addition of cranberries makes this recipe even more appealing. I'm gonna try to make this for a friend's get-together next month - Thanks again for sharing all of your delicious recipes!

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