Cranberry Bliss Bar Recipe

2010 is almost here, and what better way to kick off the new year than with 10 Rockin’ Recipes for 2010! Every day for the next ten days, I’ll be posting a new recipe for you… so get ready for some tasty fun!!

To kick off the Rockin’ Recipes, I’ve got something special for you. If you enjoy the Cranberry Bliss Bars at Starbucks ~ you’re in for a treat! This recipe comes from my fabulous friend Joli up in Washington… and I’m so excited to now share it with you!

Ingredients for the Bars:

• 1 1/2 cups packed Light Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Butter {room temperature}
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 cups Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 3/4 cups White Chocolate Chips
• 1 1/2 cups Dried Cranberries, chopped
• 1 cup Toasted Chopped Pecans
• 1/4 cup Grated Orange Zest

Ingredients for the Frosting:

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese {room temperature}
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 cup Butter {room temperature}
• 2 tsp. Vanilla
• 6 oz. White Chocolate Squares for Baking
• 1 tbsp. Grated Orange Zest

Instructions for Making Bars:

Whisk in the Flour, Baking Powder & Salt until well blended.

Then stir in White Chocolate Chips, Cranberries, Pecans & Orange Zest.

Spread the mixture evenly in pan {mixture may be stiff}…

Bake 20 – 22 minutes until golden brown.

Set aside on a wire rack to cool.

Now it’s time to whip up some fluffy frosting!

Instructions for Making Frosting:

Spread mixture over cooled cranberry bars.

Melt the white chocolate on the stove or in microwave, stirring until smooth.

Drizzle melted white chocolate over the bars and let sit until chocolate is set.

Cut bars into squares, and then diagonally into triangles.

*Personal note: I didn’t have any problems melting the white chocolate, but it was the drizzling that was a frightening site.

Oh how I wish Julia Child could have been there just to give me a tip… or five!

So my advice to you ~ use a squeeze bottle with a narrow tip for drizzling. I learned that after it was too late.

I smoothed out my scary drizzle disaster into a thin layer of white chocolate above the Cream Cheese Frosting, so only you and I will ever know…

Check out these recipe, too!

• #10: Taco Mac & Cheese
• #9: Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• #8: Easy Guilt-Free Omelettes
• #7: Olive Cheese Bread
• #6: Fluff Berry Cake
• #5: Chicken Pillows
• #4: Simply Salsa
• #3: Chocolate Treats for New Year’s and beyond
• #2: Candy Cane Brownie Lollipops
• #1: Cranberry Bliss Bars

Don’t miss another recipe or deal ~ sign up for Free Email Updates or Free RSS Updates!

Follow The Frugal Girls on Facebook & Twitter, too!

{this post is linked to GroceryCartChallenge, Tasty Tuesday & Tempt my Tummy}