Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cranberry Bliss Bars inspired by the ones you love from Starbucks! This homemade version is filled with white chocolate, a hint of orange flavor and plenty of dried cranberries.

1 cup salted butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar tightly packed
2 large eggs at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups powdered sugar

Topping:

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup white chocolate chips left whole
1/3 cup white chocolate chips melted
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• Line a 9” by 13” baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Cream butter and sugar together.  
• Add eggs, vanilla extract, and orange extract. 
• Mix until combined and set this aside.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring only as much as necessary to blend.
• Gently fold in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. 
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 20 minutes. 
• Check with a toothpick. 
• You want there to be just a few crumbs stuck on the toothpick which means it is ready to come out. 
• If it is still quite wet, give it another 5 minutes. 
• Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the bars to cool completely.
• While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting.
• Beat the cream cheese until creamy. 
•  Beat in the icing sugar and cornstarch. 
• Add in the vanilla extract, orange zest, and salt. 
• Beat this until well blended.
• When the bars are cooled, spread the icing all over the top. 
• Then sprinkle evenly with the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips with the vegetable oil. 
• Melt and stir in 15 second intervals – chocolate can burn very quickly.
• When this is fully melted, use a fork to beat it smooth
• Use the fork to drizzle the melted chocolate over the frosted bars. 
• For best results, place the pan in the fridge and allow the finished bars to cool for an hour before cutting and removing from the pan.

Recipe: Love From The Oven