Cranberry Bliss Bars

What you need:

For the bars:

    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 tsp. vanilla
    • 2 Tbsp. orange zest (I may have subbed for lemon due to Matthew's allergy to orange)
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp. baking powder
    • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
    • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

For the frosting:

    • 2 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
    • 1 1/2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 tsp. vanilla

For the drizzle:

    • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
    • Additional white chocolate chips
    • Additional dried cranberries

Directions:

    1. For the bars: Beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
    2. Add eggs, vanilla, and orange extract. Mix until just combined.
    3. Add flour, baking powder, cranberries, and white chocolate chips. Mix until just combined.
    4. Pour onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a silicone lined mat. Spread out evenly. It doesn't have to take up the whole cookie sheet.*
    5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and edges have begun to brown.
    6. Cool completely.
    7. For the frosting: Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
    8. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add a splash of milk, if needed, to thin to a spreadable consistency.
    9. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars and then sprinkle with additional cranberries and white chocolate chips.
    10. For the drizzle: melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between until completely melted and smooth.
    11. Drizzle over the top of the bars and let set before cutting.

Recipe from Mom Makes Dinner

Posted on Fantastical Sharing of Recipes