Home DessertBrownies and Bars Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars and a GIVEAWAY!

Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars and a GIVEAWAY!

by Jamie

Oh, baby. Do I have a fabulous confection to share with you today! These bars are chewy and loaded with white chocolate and dried cranberries. The frosting has a fabulous white chocolate and orange flavor that is out of this world. Seriously, these bars are dangerous business. Make at your own risk, truly! They would be awesome to take to any holiday party this season.

I found this recipe for Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars in my good friend Laura’s new cookbook…

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Christmas Desserts! This little book is full of beautiful, holiday themed desserts. Laura’s recipes are always easy to make, and delicious. You can buy this book at Amazon for $4.99! Isn’t that a great deal? It would make a fun stocking stuffer. I have  two books available to giveaway to two luck readers. To enter the giveaway just leave me a comment below telling me your favorite Christmas Dessert. It can be homemade, or something you love to buy during the season. The giveaway will be open from today until Thursday November 13th at midnight. Winner will be announced on Friday November 14th, bright and early with the sunshine.

You can visit Laura’s food blog, Real Mom Kitchen by clicking here.

Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars from Jamie Cooks It Up!

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1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Into your stand mixer or large mixing bowl place 3/4 C butter and 1 1/4 C brown sugar.

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3. Mix them until well combined.

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4. Add 3 eggs, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix until the mixture is nice and smooth.

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5. Into a small bowl place 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 1/2 cups flour. Toss them together to combine.

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6. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix until well combined. Should take a couple of minutes.

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7. Chop 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and add them to the bowl. Add 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips as well and mix to combine.

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8. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and place the dough inside.

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Spread it out evenly with a knife.

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9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. Allow the bars to cool completely.

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11. To make the frosting, zest a beautiful orange. You will need 1/2 tsp of zest.

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12. Into a medium sized mixing bowl place 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 Tb butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp orange zest and 2 Tb juice from the orange. Mix it well, until it’s smooth and glossy.

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13. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Sprinkle the top with 2 Tb chopped dried cranberries.

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14. Pour 1/4 C white chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and heat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each one. You want to make sure the chocolate doesn’t get too hot. It will start to clump up on you if it’s heated to fast.

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15. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top of the bars.

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Lovely!
16. Let them chill out in the fridge until the chocolate is set and the frosting has firmed up a bit.

Slice and enjoy!

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Serves: 16 servings Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: NA calories NA fat
Rating: 4.5/5
( 2 voted )

Ingredients

  • BARS:
  • 3/4 C butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 C flour
  • 1/2 C dried cranberries, chopped
  • 1/2 C white chocolate chips
  • FROSTING:
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 Tb butter, softened
  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp orange zest
  • 2 Tb orange juice
  • TOPPINGS:
  • 2 Tb dried cranberries, chopped
  • 1/4 C white chocolate, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Into your stand mixer or large mixing bowl place 3/4 C butter and 1 1/4 C brown sugar.
3. Mix them until well combined.
4. Add 3 eggs, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix until the mixture is nice and smooth.
5. Into a small bowl place 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 1/2 cups flour. Toss them together to combine.
6. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix until well combined. Should take a couple of minutes.
7. Chop 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and add them to the bowl. Add 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips as well and mix to combine.
8. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and place the dough inside. Spread it out evenly with a knife.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. Allow the bars to cool completely.
11. To make the frosting, zest a beautiful orange. You will need 1/2 tsp of zest.
12. Into a medium sized mixing bowl place 4 ounces cream cheese, 2 Tb butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp orange zest and 2 Tb juice from the orange. Mix it well, until it's smooth and glossy.
13. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Sprinkle the top with 2 Tb chopped dried cranberries.
14. Pour 1/4 C white chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and heat it in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each one. You want to make sure the chocolate doesn't get too hot. It will start to clump up on you if it's heated to fast.
15. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top of the bars. Lovely!
16. Let them chill out in the fridge until the chocolate is set and the frosting has firmed up a bit. Slice and enjoy!


Recipe from Christmas Desserts by Laura Powell
Cranberry Orange Bliss Bars from Jamie Cooks It Up!!

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141 comments

Natalie November 10, 2014 - 9:49 pm

Christmas isn’t Christmas unless I make my mom’s Pecan Tassies. Little bite sized pecan pies that melt in your mouth. YUM!

Reply
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Brenda November 11, 2014 - 10:01 am

We have two family favorites that are “must haves”.
Russian Teacakes and Merry Christmas Cookies. Can’t wait to make some. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes. Love, Love your site!

Reply
Brooklyn November 11, 2014 - 6:48 pm

I always enjoy home made egg nog ice cream!

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Melissa DuBois November 11, 2014 - 8:24 pm

My husband never lets the holidays go by withou me having to make him a batch of creme de menthe brownies.

Reply
Melissa DuBois November 11, 2014 - 8:24 pm

My husband never lets the holidays go by without me having to make him a batch of creme de menthe brownies.

Reply
jan November 12, 2014 - 9:53 am

Creme brulee… it’s a holiday must!

Reply
Ann November 13, 2014 - 5:45 am

My dad makes the world’s best peanut brittle. It wouldn’t be Christmas without it!

Reply
Mary November 13, 2014 - 6:42 am

Must have thumbprint cookies!

Reply
Lisa Patrick November 13, 2014 - 10:50 am

My favourite has got to be pecan pie. Simple and easy to make, this pie always reminds me of Christmases past when my mum would make it. I couldn’t wait! I could wait for the fruitcake.

Reply
Michelle L. November 13, 2014 - 10:50 am

Homemade sugar cookies…with lots of frosting. 🙂

Reply
Marcy November 13, 2014 - 11:13 am

Homemade divinity with pecans in it is truly divine and a true Christmas treat.

Reply
Karen J Pinion November 13, 2014 - 11:15 am

My family loves Smucker’s caramel pecan pie. Easy, quick and fantastic !

Reply
talia November 13, 2014 - 11:17 am

We make nut rolls that are amazing and little Italian cookies. Both are family favorites!

Reply
Heidi November 13, 2014 - 12:21 pm

I love toffee.

Reply
Cathie W November 13, 2014 - 12:32 pm

Pumpkin Pie!

Reply
Ashley C November 13, 2014 - 12:37 pm

We make homemade donuts every Christmas season. Oh.My.Yum!

Reply
Lisa Patrick November 13, 2014 - 12:48 pm

My family m

Reply
Denise R. November 13, 2014 - 1:24 pm

I love homemade caramels!

Reply
Debbie Dunlap November 13, 2014 - 1:45 pm

Those labor-intensive peppernuts are a requirement with our family.

Reply
Alissa Chambers November 13, 2014 - 2:09 pm

Pumpkin rolls and pizzelle’s!

Reply
Shauna Burton November 13, 2014 - 3:51 pm

Pumpkin roll!

Reply
Edna Busto November 13, 2014 - 3:55 pm

Peanut butter cookies with a hershey kiss on top! mom made them so good!

Reply
Jamie Gray November 13, 2014 - 4:27 pm

We always made homemade sugar cookies and frosting as kids and I continue the tradition today with my son. It just isn’t Christmas without decorating Christmas tree and Santa cookies!

Reply
Robin B. November 13, 2014 - 5:03 pm

Toffee!

Reply
Stef November 13, 2014 - 5:42 pm

Favorite dessert for Christmas is Edward’s Key Lime Pie

Reply
D.A. Fox November 13, 2014 - 6:06 pm

I have not posted here before, although I love to read your blog and try out your recipes! I thought with the give away it would be a fun time to say thanks for a great and interesting blog! My favorite Christmas dessert is Mrs. Parker’s Fruitcake Cookies. They may not be called this, but when I was a little girl Mrs. Parker made them and gave me her recipe… hence Mrs. Parker’s Fruitcake cookies. I don’t really like fruitcake, but I love these cookies made with condensed milk, candied cherries and pineapple, dates, coconut and pecans, with just a little flour to hold it all together. Mmmm!

Reply
Lin Hyde November 13, 2014 - 7:32 pm

I keep thinking of “favorites” like Yeary family Christmas Cookies (an anise flavored rolled out cookie) Raspberry Ribbons, and snowballs. The real key though is baking with family. The memories are what makes them special, making them with my mother and grandmother in the past and with my sisters, our children and even the friends they invite to join us because it is special to them and they want others to share the experience.

Reply
CJ Vierow November 13, 2014 - 7:58 pm

We always like Mexican Wedding Cookies, Pecan Pie Squares, and some type of shortbread. These cranberry orange bliss bars sound really good, so maybe we’ll switch up and try them! Thanks for all your great recipes.

Reply
Carolyn November 13, 2014 - 9:30 pm

Love your recipes … delightful!
My husband likes fruitcake … not the “real” fruitcakes … just lots of raisins and nuts … mostly NUTS! (Boiled raisin cake … using my mother’s recipe.)

Reply
Ann Moore November 13, 2014 - 11:53 pm

Always always make my “Mom’s Famous Fudge”. It’s the best to eat and to make-taking turns stirring and then licking out the pan!

Reply
Lisa Kros November 14, 2014 - 4:44 am

Snickerdoodles!!!

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Mindy November 14, 2014 - 8:25 am

My family loves to eat my great grandpa’s peanut brittle in the holiday season.

Reply
Katie November 14, 2014 - 12:33 pm

Sugar cookies for the kids to decorate and my moms fudge! Yum. 🙂

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Melanie November 14, 2014 - 2:45 pm

My mom makes something called “clouds” chocolate and cool whip rolled in nilla wafers. It’s not Christmas without these lovelies!

Reply
Jennifer C November 14, 2014 - 3:02 pm

I love cinnamon almonds!!!

Reply
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