Cranberry Bliss Bars

Cranberry Bliss that is!

I must have been living under a rock, because it was just a couple of weeks ago that I tried these amazing treats from Starbucks for the first time.

My first thought was….”I need to find a recipe for these babies!”

Low and behold I was visiting one of my favorite blogs, there was the recipe!!

After doing a bit more research I found a few variations, but all were very similar.

Gather your ingredients

In the bowl of electric mixer cream together 3/4 cup butter and 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar

Add 3 eggs, 2 tbsp finely chopped crystalized ginger, 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla and mix very well

Sift together 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking power and 1/2 tsp salt and add to mixer. Mix just until combined and smooth.

You can see above the batter is nice and smooth, with the bits of ginger throughout!

Add 3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries and 4 ounces good quality white chocolate, such as Lindt, chopped into fine chunks

Stir with wooden spoon until well combined

Spread into 9 by 13 inch baking pan lined with parchment

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Prepare icing by mixing 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 3 cups sifted confectioners sugar, 1 tsp pure vanilla and 4 tsp fresh lemon juice until smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped sweetened cranberries and drizzle with 1/2 cup confectioners sugar mixed with 1 tbsp milk and 2 tsp softened vegetable shortening.

Cut into 12 rectangles. Slice each rectangle in half diagonally.