Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks knockoff)

I live for November when Cranberry Bliss bars are back on the menu at Starbucks, but only until the new year. I love the Bliss bars year round, so I made my own knockoff recipe. I tried making several knockoff recipes, but they were all way too sweet for my taste and a little too mushy. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think. 

Read through the entire recipe before you begin.

For the Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, room temperature cut into 1 inch slices
• 3/4 cups packed brown brown sugar
• 3/4 white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips (Ghirardelli)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

For topping:

1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted

1/4 cups dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

 

Method:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 13x9 inch jelly roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
• Beat together butter and sugars over medium speed with an electric mixer. Add in eggs, 1 tsp orange zest and vanilla extract and mix in low speed until combined. 
• In a small bowl whisk together the flour, corn starch, ground ginger, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Add the try ingredients to the butter mixture. on low speed stir to blend.
• Stir in white chocolate chips and cranberries by hand. Spread dough evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 18-24 minutes until set and golden brown at the edges. Center should be set. 
• Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool completely before moving to next step.
• Top cooled bars with frosting. Sprinkle with chopped cranberries  and drizzle white chocolate over the top with a fork. I dip my fork into the chocolate then shake it gently over the top of the bars to create little streaks. 
• You can either slice right away and enjoy, or place the bars in the refrigerator for about an hour (what I like to do) to help them set up before cutting. Cut into triangles and enjoy!
• These freeze well if you don't plan to serve/eat them within a few days.

For the Frosting 

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• 4 oz, cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 tablespoon cream

Method: 

• In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, combine the butter and cream cheese. Mix on low until well combined. Add vanilla and orange zest and mix to combine. Sift the powdered sugar and salt into the butter.  Add the cream. Mix on low until combined.  If the frosting looks too runny, add about 1/4 cup powdered sugar. 
• Turn up mixer to medium speed and best for 5 minutes until smooth and creamy.