cranberry bliss bars

It’s been a few years since i originally posted this recipe and i thought the photos could stand a re-do….

and of course since we were in the baking mood…..i decided to update this post for you.

I have been making these for over 7 years…..ever since i had originally had the very first one at Starbucks

way back when we used to live in Colorado.

These are my go-to recipe when i have a cookie exchange to attend….

or i need some last minute baked goods that are festive and pretty…and just damn good.

I re-introduce you to my cranberry bliss bars….

or….. orgasm in your mouth ….

but since we are all PG rated around here….i thought we would just go with the original title.

you will need:

CAKE

*2 sticks unsalted butter {softened}

*1 1/4 cups light brown sugar {packed}

*3 large eggs

*1 1/2 tsp vanilla

*1 tsp ginger

*1/4 tsp salt

*1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

* 3/4 cup diced dried cranberries

* 6 ounces white chocolate {cut into chunks} OR 3/4 cup white chocolate chips

FROSTING

*4 ounces cream cheese {softened}

* 3 cups powdered sugar

* 4 tsp fresh lemon juice

*1/2 tsp vanilla extract

*1/4 cup diced dried cranberries

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

* Make cake by beating the butter and brown sugar together with a mixer until smooth. Add the eggs,

vanilla, slat, ginger….then bear well till all mixed. Gradually mix in the flour until smooth. Mix 3/4 cup diced

dried cranberries and the white chocolate into the batter by hand. Pour the batter into a well greased

9×12″ baking pan. Spread the cake batter evenly across the pan.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the cake is lightly brown on the edges.

Allow the cake to cool completely.

In the meantime while the cake is baking…..you can make the frosting and test taste it as you go;-)

Combine the softened cream, 3 cups powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla into a medium bowl

with an electric mixer until smooth.

Once the cake has completely cooled, use a spatula to spread the frosting over the top of the cake.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of diced cranberries over the frosting on the cake.

IMPORTANT

Allow the cake to sit for several hours.

If you want the bars to look like the ones you get from Starbucks….slice the cake lengthwise through the middle.

Slice the cake across the width three times making a total of eight rectangular slices.

Slice each of those rectangles diagonally creating 16 triangular slices.

go the easy route and just slice them into bite size bars.

but try not to eat them all before you head out to that party.