Orange Cranberry Cookie Bars

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Makes

8 dozen

Updated: Dec. 22, 2023
You can make Starbucks cranberry bliss bars any time you please with this copycat recipe. It makes an entire pan of bars that taste just like the real deal. —Jennifer Blakely, Visalia, California
Orange Cranberry Cookie Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup white baking chips
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
  • 1/4 cup grated orange zest
  • FROSTING:
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons grated orange zest, divided
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Stir in baking chips, cranberries, pecans and orange zest.
  2. Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  3. For frosting, in a large bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, butter, 1 tablespoon zest and vanilla; beat until smooth. Spread over bars. Combine dried cranberries and remaining 2 tablespoons zest; sprinkle over frosting. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Cut into triangles. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 triangle: 89 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 64mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.