My mom has a slight addiction when it comes to Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars – she will admit it too. The moment those red cups hit the bar she knows…Bliss is to be had. Well it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this bars aren’t so blissful when you add up the calories and fat – so I decided to try to copycat a healthier option for her to enjoy as the winter season continues.
A better for you Cranberry Bliss Bar
Free Printable Recipe here
Ingredients:
For the Bars –
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter, unsalted
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup melted butter, unsalted
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
For the Frosting –
8 oz – less fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
8 oz – less fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 ounces white baking chocolate, melted
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooling spray.
2. To make the bars; in a large bowl
combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, stir well.
3. Using a second bowl combine the
granulated sugar and brown sugar with the butter, egg whites, applesauce and
vanilla. Whisk until light and fluffy.
4. Add the dry ingredients slowly to the
sugar mixture. Mix well. Should be smooth.
5. Fold in the white chocolate chips and
cranberries. Spread the batter into the
baking pan. Make smooth.
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooling spray.
2. To make the bars; in a large bowl
combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, stir well.
3. Using a second bowl combine the
granulated sugar and brown sugar with the butter, egg whites, applesauce and
vanilla. Whisk until light and fluffy.
4. Add the dry ingredients slowly to the
sugar mixture. Mix well. Should be smooth.
5. Fold in the white chocolate chips and
cranberries. Spread the batter into the
baking pan. Make smooth.
6. Bake bars for 10-14 minutes. Edges should be light brown. Do not over bake!
7. To prepare the frosting; In a large
bowl combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until well blended
using an electric hand mixer.
8. Once bars are completely cool. Frost them with the frosting. Add another 1/3 cup chopped cranberries on
top of the frosting.
9. Melt the white chocolate in the
microwave. Drizzle the melted white
chocolate over the bars/cranberries.
7. To prepare the frosting; In a large
bowl combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until well blended
using an electric hand mixer.
8. Once bars are completely cool. Frost them with the frosting. Add another 1/3 cup chopped cranberries on
top of the frosting.
9. Melt the white chocolate in the
microwave. Drizzle the melted white
chocolate over the bars/cranberries.
10. Let the white chocolate set before cutting the bars.
11. Once set, cut into triangles for
serving. Enjoy!
11. Once set, cut into triangles for
serving. Enjoy!
I guarantee you will WOW your family and friends with this treat!
Wonder if you could use whole wheat, or half whole wheat and half white flour in this? Good job on cutting down the sugar in the bars themselves!
For the topping, I bet a powdered sugar glaze would work – cut out the cream cheese, and drizzle less of the white chocolate?
Looks yummy! Pinning so that I save it! I love cranberries!
This looks so yummy! I'm drooling! LOL
I love the basic bar recipe. It looks like I could make it adding different fruits too.
These look so delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Have a recipe similar to this except mine doesn't use cream cheese, apple sauce or powdered sugar. Basically just melt the white chocolate chips and drizzle on top without a frosting, otherwise I feel it would be way too sweet since it has white chocolate chips inside the bars too. But thanks for the recipe variation!
YUMMY YUMMY!
wiping drool off the keyboard right now. Those look absolutely amazing 🙂