Name: Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 52 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter melted; 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar or 3/4 cup white sugar & 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons orange zest; 1 cup white chocolate chips; 3/4 cup dried cranberries; 6 ounces white chocolate (preferably baking chocolate); 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese (brick-style, not spreadable); 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream; 2 ounces white chocolate; 2 tablespoons dried cranberries

Jump to Recipe· 4.7 from 25 reviews

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for that perfect sweet treat that hits just the right notes of tart, creamy, and oh-so-indulgent. Well, I’m super excited to share this Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe with you because it’s truly fan-freaking-tastic — tender, buttery bars studded with dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, topped off with a luscious cream cheese frosting and drizzled with more white chocolate and cranberries. Once you try it, I promise it’ll be your new go-to, whether for coffee dates, holiday gatherings, or an anytime pick-me-up.

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect flavor balance: The tart cranberries contrast beautifully with the sweet white chocolate and orange zest, giving you layers of flavor in every bite.
Textural delight: Soft, buttery bars combined with a smooth cream cheese frosting make each bite a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Make-ahead friendly: The bars refrigerate well and even freeze beautifully, so you can prep them in advance for any occasion.
Easy to customize: You can swap ingredients or adjust sweetness to suit your taste, making this recipe truly your own.

Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars, cranberry white chocolate bars, white chocolate cranberry dessert, holiday cranberry bars, easy white chocolate cranberry recipes - A rectangular layered dessert lies on white parchment paper inside a glass baking dish on a white marbled surface. The bottom layer is golden brown, thin, and even. On top is a thick, smooth white frosting layer covering the entire surface. Thin white icing lines are drizzled across the frosting, forming a light grid pattern. Scattered over the top are small dried red fruit pieces, evenly spaced, adding bright red spots to the white frosting. The cloth nearby has green, red, and dark colors in a check pattern. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe combines pantry staples and a few special ingredients that together create a memorable flavor and texture combo. Each item has a role — from the rich melted butter making the base tender, to the orange zest brightening things up. Before shopping, look for quality dried cranberries (without added sugar if you want less sweetness) and brick-style cream cheese, which really makes a difference in the frosting’s texture.

Unsalted butter: Melted butter ensures a moist, soft crumb and lets you control the salt level.
Light brown sugar: Adds depth and subtle molasses flavor — or you can do a mix of white and brown sugar if you prefer a lighter sweetness.
Large eggs: They bind everything together and add richness.
Vanilla extract: Always enhances the overall flavor profile and pairs incredibly with white chocolate.
All-purpose flour: The backbone of these bars, giving structure without toughness.
Baking powder: For that gentle rise and fluffy texture.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances other flavors.
Orange zest: Adds a fresh, citrusy zing to brighten the bars.
White chocolate chips: The star ingredient — pockets of creamy sweetness throughout.
Dried cranberries: Tart bursts that contrast sweet white chocolate perfectly.
White chocolate (for frosting & topping): Choose baking chocolate to get a smooth, rich melt unlike chips.
Full-fat cream cheese: Use brick-style for thick, spreadable frosting with tang.
Powdered sugar: For sweetening the frosting without a grainy texture.
Whipping cream: Adjusts frosting consistency to silky smooth.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the reasons I love the Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe is that it adapts so well to your preferences. Feel free to switch dried cranberries with fresh ones if you want a juicier bite, or swap the orange zest for lemon for a different citrus note. You can also tweak the frosting sweetness, depending on whether you like it tangier or sweeter.

Variation: I’ve tried adding chopped pecans for a delightful crunch, which adds a nice contrast to the soft bars — you might love it, too!
Dietary tweak: For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with an equal amount of gluten-free flour blend — the bars still come out beautifully tender.
Seasonal swaps: In warmer months, try swapping cranberries with dried cherries or blueberries for a seasonal twist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pan & Ingredients

First things first—preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grab a 9×13-inch pan. I like to spray it with non-stick cooking spray and then line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting later. This little trick saves you from scrubbing pans and makes slicing the bars a breeze. Have all your ingredients measured out and ready to go — it’ll make the mixing smoother and stress-free.

Step 2: Mix the Batter

In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter and light brown sugar until they’re combined and glossy. Then, crack in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix on medium speed until fluffy. This aeration step is key—it adds lightness to the bars. Next, on low speed, add the flour, baking powder, and salt just until the dry ingredients disappear into the batter. You don’t want to overmix here! Lastly, gently fold in the orange zest, white chocolate chips, and dried cranberries. Those bursts of flavor are what make these bars unforgettable.

Step 3: Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top evenly with a spatula. Pop it into the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean — a crumb or two is fine, but no wet batter! Don’t overbake, or the bars lose their magic softness.

Step 4: Make That Cream Cheese Frosting

While the bars cool, chop the white baking chocolate into tiny pieces and microwave on medium power in 45-second bursts, stirring in between to get a silky smooth melt. Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a bowl until soft and creamy. Slowly add the melted white chocolate, mixing on low speed, and then gradually beat in powdered sugar until you reach your desired sweetness. Add whipping cream a tablespoon at a time to loosen up the frosting until it’s spreadable but still thick. I love tasting as I go—it’s all about balance.

Step 5: Frost & Add That Finishing Touch

Once your bars have completely cooled (patience pays off here—you don’t want the frosting to melt!), spread the frosting evenly over the top. Then melt the remaining white chocolate for the drizzle and gently drizzle it over the frosted bars. Sprinkle with a few extra dried cranberries for a pretty, festive finish. When cutting, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between slices for neat, pretty bars — perfect for sharing or gifting.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Don’t skip the parchment paper: It makes lifting and slicing the bars so much easier and keeps them intact.
Use brick-style cream cheese: It yields a much thicker, smoother frosting than spreadable types.
Microwave chocolate carefully: Always melt in short bursts and stir in between to prevent scorching or graininess.
Cool bars completely before frosting: Otherwise, your frosting might slide off or become runny.

How to Serve Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe

Garnishes

I love adding a few crisp dried cranberries on top along with a delicate drizzle of white chocolate—it makes these bars look like they came straight from a bakery. Sometimes, during the holidays, I’ll also sprinkle a tiny bit of edible gold dust or crushed pistachios for a festive sparkle and crunch.

Side Dishes

Pair these bliss bars with a simple cup of black coffee or a creamy chai latte to complement the flavors perfectly. For brunch, I like serving them alongside fresh fruit and Greek yogurt for a balanced spread.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re bringing these to a party, slice them into bite-sized squares and arrange on a pretty platter with additional dried cranberries scattered around. Wrapping individual bars in parchment and tying with a ribbon also makes a charming gift for neighbors or coworkers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The bars actually taste even better after a day or two because the flavors meld together, but just be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving to enjoy the creamy frosting fully.

Freezing

Freezing these bars is a game-changer when you want to prep in advance. I bake and cool them fully, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil before placing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, I thaw them overnight in the fridge, then frost right before serving for that fresh-from-the-kitchen experience.

Reheating

If you like your bars a bit softer, I gently warm individual slices in the microwave for about 10 seconds—not much more—to soften the white chocolate frosting without melting it completely. Just be careful not to overdo it, or you’ll end up with a melty mess.

FAQs

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of dried?

Fresh cranberries are more tart and contain a lot of moisture, which can affect the texture and structure of the bars. If you want to use fresh, consider lightly cooking them to reduce moisture or increasing flour slightly, but dried cranberries generally give the best texture and concentrated flavor.
What if I don’t have orange zest?

The orange zest adds a bright citrus note that complements white chocolate beautifully, but if you don’t have it, you can substitute with lemon zest or a tiny splash of vanilla extract. The bars will still be delicious!
Can I make these bars vegan?

To veganize this recipe, you’ll need a plant-based butter alternative, egg replacer (like flax eggs), dairy-free white chocolate, and vegan cream cheese. The texture might vary slightly, but these swaps work if you want to enjoy a plant-based version.
How do I get clean slices with the frosting?

Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between each slice. You can also chill the bars in the fridge for about 30 minutes before slicing to firm up the frosting, giving you neater cuts.

Final Thoughts

This Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars Recipe is one of those sweet treats I keep coming back to when I want to impress without stress. It’s comforting, festive, and endlessly versatile—perfect for sharing, gifting, or just treating yourself. I really hope you enjoy making and eating these bars as much as I do. Trust me, once you try them, they’re going to become a beloved staple in your recipe collection too!