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These Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars are rich, chewy and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting and a white chocolate drizzle. Made with dried cranberries, orange zest and a brown sugar base, they bring the holiday café favorite right into your own kitchen. These bars are easy to bake and even easier to enjoy. The balance of tart cranberries, creamy frosting and sweet white chocolate makes them an irresistible seasonal treat.

Three stacked homemade bliss bars with white chocolate and cranberries, topped with icing, rest on a white board beside a pink cloth—an easy cranberry bar you’ll love to make at home.

These Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars are soft, chewy and topped with a wonderfully tangy cream cheese frosting, cranberries and sweet white chocolate.

You might also enjoy crinkle Grinch cookies, cranberry lemon pistachio cookies or, for something savory, an antipasto Christmas tree.

Three stacked white chocolate cranberry bars, reminiscent of easy cranberry bar treats, sit on a board with holiday ornaments in the background.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to make: No fancy tools or steps needed.
Perfect for gifting: They look great and hold up well.
Holiday favorite: Festive flavor with cranberries and orange.
Better than store-bought: Fresh and full of flavor.
Make ahead friendly: Great for preparing a day in advance.

Three homemade bliss bars—white chocolate cranberry bars—are stacked on a board, with a knife and Christmas ornament nearby.

Homemade Bliss Bars Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Unsalted butter: Adds moisture and richness to the base.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and provides structure.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and depth to both the bars and frosting.
All purpose flour: Provides the structure for the base.
Dried cranberries: Add tart flavor and festive color.
Orange zest: Brightens the flavor and enhances the cranberry.
White chocolate chips: Used for both the frosting and decorative topping.
Cream cheese: Creates the smooth and tangy frosting base.
Icing sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.

Baking ingredients in bowls with an egg, butter, orange zest, and holiday ornaments on a pink cloth—perfect for making easy cranberry bar or homemade bliss bars.

How to Make Starbucks Bliss Bars

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Mix the wet ingredients: Combine cooled melted butter with the egg, sugar and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients: Stir in the flour until just combined.
Fold in the mix-ins: Add cranberries and orange zest.
Bake the base: Spread batter in the pan and bake until golden.
Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese with melted white chocolate, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Frost the bars: Spread frosting over cooled bars.
Add the topping: Sprinkle with cranberries and white chocolate chips, then drizzle with the remaining melted chocolate.

A fork holds a bite of easy cranberry bar with frosting, next to the remaining white chocolate cranberry bar on a white board—just like your favorite copycat recipe.

Substitutions and Variations

Make it gluten free: Use a 1:1 gluten free flour blend.
Use orange extract: Swap orange zest for extract if preferred.
Add nuts: Try chopped walnuts or pecans in the base for extra texture.
Try milk chocolate: Use in place of white chocolate for a twist.

Three Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars sit on a white board with a knife, festive ornaments, and a pink cloth nearby.

Serving Suggestions

With a festive drink: These pair with pretty much anything, so try a Santa’s hat cocktail, boozy hot chocolate or an iced gingerbread latte.
With snacks: Enjoy a Christmas tree charcuterie board or reindeer cupcakes.

Three easy cranberry bars stacked on a white board, with ornaments and chocolate chips nearby, make these homemade bliss bars perfect for any festive occasion.

How to Store Cranberry Bars

Store: Keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze them for up to 2 months. Wrap first in plastic wrap and then in foil to prevent freezer burn.
Thaw: Defrost them overnight in the fridge.

Frosted white chocolate cranberry bars with tart cranberries and creamy chips rest on a cutting board, surrounded by festive holiday decor—a classic, easy cranberry bar perfect for celebrations.

Top Tips

Cool the base completely: Frosting warm bars will cause it to melt.
Use room temperature cream cheese: This makes the frosting smoother.
Cut with a sharp knife: For clean slices, wipe between cuts.
Add more zest: If you love citrus, bump up the orange zest for stronger flavor.

Triangle dessert bars topped with white frosting, dried cranberries, and white chocolate shavings—these homemade bliss bars are a delicious white chocolate cranberry bars copycat recipe you’ll love sharing.

Cranberry Bliss Bars FAQs

Why are my cranberry bliss bars dry?

Cranberry bliss bars are meant to be moist. If your bars are coming out dry, it’s possible that you over baked them. Check your oven temperature with an oven thermometer.

Can I use store-bought frosting?

You can, but homemade gives better flavor and texture.

Three triangular white chocolate cranberry bars stacked on a white board, with festive decor behind—just like your favorite Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars.

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Three stacked Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars with creamy topping sit on a white surface—these easy cranberry bars are the perfect homemade bliss bars for any dessert lover.
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5 from 7 votes

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

By: Bella Bucchiotti
These cranberry bliss bars are soft, chewy and layered with sweet frosting and white chocolate. They’re a homemade version of the popular coffee shop treat. Perfect for the holidays, these bars are rich, flavorful and easy to make.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Equipment

Ingredients 

For the Bars

For the Topping

Instructions 

Prepare the Bars

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.
  • Melt the butter in the microwave for about 90 seconds. Let the butter cool for a minute and then add the egg, brown sugar and vanilla and stir to combine.
  • Add the flour and stir until just combined.
  • Fold in ½ cup cranberries and orange zest and stir to combine.

Bake the Bars

  • Scoop the batter into the pan, smoothing if necessary.
  • Bake for 18 to 21 minutes. Allow bars to cool before frosting them.

Prepare the Topping

  • Melt 1 cup of the white chocolate in the microwave for about 1 minute, reheating in 10 second intervals, or until it can be stirred smooth.
  • In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, about two-thirds of the melted white chocolate, 2 cups of icing sugar and the vanilla and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add additional icing sugar if necessary.

Decorate the Bars

  • Frost the bars and then evenly sprinkle cranberries and un-melted white chocolate chips over the top of the frosted bars.
  • Drizzle bars with remaining melted white chocolate, reheating in the microwave if necessary.

Notes

Cool the base completely: Frosting warm bars will cause it to melt.
Use room temperature cream cheese: This makes the frosting smoother.
Cut with a sharp knife: For clean slices, wipe between cuts.
Add more zest: If you love citrus, bump up the orange zest for stronger flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 94g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 79g | Vitamin A: 583IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1mg
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Baking ingredients in bowls with an egg, butter, orange zest, and holiday ornaments on a pink cloth—perfect for making easy cranberry bar or homemade bliss bars.
Baking ingredients in bowls on a white counter with a pink cloth and red Christmas ornaments—perfect for making Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars.
A mixing bowl with flour and wet ingredients, surrounded by cranberries, eggs, and holiday ornaments—perfect for creating easy cranberry bar recipes like Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars.
Glass bowl with cookie dough and cranberries, spatula inside, surrounded by baking ingredients and ornaments—perfect for preparing homemade bliss bars inspired by the famous Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars.
Square pan of cookie dough with chocolate chips, next to a spatula, pink cloth, and Christmas ornaments—perfect for baking white chocolate cranberry bars or your favorite Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars this holiday season.
A bowl of whipped cream with bowls, a pink cloth, and Christmas ornaments on a white surface—perfect for pairing with homemade bliss bars or your favorite easy cranberry bar this holiday season.
A spatula spreads frosting on a square cake in a pan, resembling easy cranberry bars, with ornaments and a pink cloth nearby.
A square pan of white chocolate cranberry bars with cranberry pieces sits beside two ornaments and a pink cloth, capturing the homemade bliss of an easy cranberry bar for the holidays.
Sliced Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars with white chocolate drizzle, a knife, white chocolate chips, and Christmas ornaments.

These Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars are a festive, sweet and tangy dessert that’s perfect for the holiday season. With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, they’re easy to prepare at home and always a hit at parties, bake sales or cozy nights in. The balance of citrus, cranberries and rich frosting makes each bite memorable. You’ll love how they look, taste and store for later enjoyment.

Other Recipes to Try

Three easy cranberry bars stacked, topped with white chocolate drizzle and dried cranberries—a perfect Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars recipe.
Three stacked Starbucks copycat cranberry bliss bars with white frosting, cranberries, and a white chocolate drizzle.
Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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Recipe Rating




5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

4 Comments

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve made many copycat recipes and was disappointed in them. But this one is delicious and incredible!!! Will be trying more of your recipes soon.

    Reply