Print

Easy Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

cranberry bliss bars - featured image
Print Recipe

These Easy Cranberry Bliss Bars with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting are the kind of dessert that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen when you really didn’t. The combination of tart dried cranberries, buttery shortbread-style base, and that tangy orange cream cheese frosting is honestly next-level.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ cups (180g) dried cranberries
  • ½ cup (120ml) orange juice
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup (½ stick or 57g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange zest (from about 2 medium oranges)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (85g) white chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of overhang on the long sides. Lightly spray the parchment with non-stick cooking spray if desired.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer on medium speed. Add the vanilla extract and beat for another 30 seconds. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough will look crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it comes together into a soft, slightly sticky dough. Do not overmix.
  3. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown. The center will still look slightly soft. Let it cool in the pan while you make the filling.
  4. While the base is baking, combine the dried cranberries, orange juice, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the cranberries have plumped up and the liquid has reduced by about half. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water to make a slurry. Pour this into the cranberry mixture and stir constantly for about 1 minute, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla e…
  5. Spoon the cranberry filling over the warm shortbread base. Spread it evenly with a spatula, getting right to the edges. Let this cool completely at room temperature, about 20 minutes.
  6. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes with a hand mixer. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Add the orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla extract, then beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes until the frosting is light, fluffy, and spreadable.
  7. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cranberry layer. Pop the pan in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
  8. If desired, melt the white chocolate chips with the coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Drizzle over the chilled bars using a fork or a small piping bag. Let the drizzle set for about 10 minutes before cutting.
  9. Use the parchment paper handles to lift the entire block of bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into squares. Wipe the knife clean between cuts for the neatest edges. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t overbake the base. Room temperature ingredients matter for the frosting. Let the filling cool before frosting. Chill before cutting for clean slices. Use a microplane for zest. Double the batch if bringing to a party.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry bliss bars, orange cream cheese frosting, holiday baking, Christmas cookies, easy dessert, shortbread bars

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/easy-cranberry-bliss-bars-with-orange-cream-cheese-frosting/