Cranberry Bliss Bars Orange Frosting (Printable)

Buttery bars loaded with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with tangy orange cream cheese frosting and elegant white chocolate drizzle.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 3-5 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
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. Do not overmix.
06 - Fold in chopped dried cranberries and white chocolate chips using a spatula.
07 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top.
08 - Bake for 25-30 minutes, or 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. 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 with additional chopped dried cranberries if desired. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top using a spoon or piping bag.
13 - Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The orange cream cheese frosting cuts through the sweetness in a way that feels bright and unexpected.
  • They hold up beautifully in a crowd, no forks required, and taste even better the next day.
  • You can prep them ahead and frost them right before serving, which has saved me more than once during holiday chaos.
02 -
  • If you frost the bars while they're still warm, the cream cheese will turn into a puddle, trust me on this one.
  • Chopping the cranberries makes a huge difference, whole ones can be too chewy and overwhelm the texture.
  • Parchment overhang is non-negotiable, trying to cut bars in the pan is messy and frustrating.
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese and butter are essential, cold ingredients won't cream properly and the frosting will be lumpy.
  • Melt white chocolate in short bursts and stir constantly, it scorches faster than you think.
  • If the frosting feels too thick, add orange juice a teaspoon at a time until it spreads easily.
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