Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

Each year, I search and search for a recipe to send out with my Christmas cards. I found a similar recipe to this, tweaked it just a bit, and perfection was born. These have a ton of great flavor…they are a little sweet and a whole lot of delicious! You can use light or regular cream cheese for the frosting, add a little more or a little less orange zest, depending on your taste. Completely customizable to your tastes.  Plus, they turn out really pretty. Great for a holiday cookie exchange, gifts to neighbors, or to devour yourself! They are ah-maz-ing!! ~Kathy

Blondie:

• 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) butter
• 1 1/3 c. packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
• 2 1/8 c. flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped (this helps distribute them more evenly throughout
• the batter)
• 4 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped or 1/2 ­ 2/3 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting / Topping:

• 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened (regular or light)
• 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
• 4 oz. white baking chocolate, melted
• 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and lightly grease a 9×13 ­inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In a microwave­-safe bowl, melt the butter.
3. Stir in the brown sugar until well­-combined.
4. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest.
5. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until well combined; then fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
7. Bake for 18­-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist (not gooey) crumbs. Do NOT over bake!!!
8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
9. For the frosting, using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt together until light and fluffy (about 2­-3 minutes).
10. Mix in the vanilla.
11. Add about half of the melted chocolate and mix until creamy.
12. Spread the frosting onto the cooled bars.
13. Sprinkle with cranberries and orange zest and drizzle the remaining white chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
14. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

Print

December 13, 2018

by foursistersdish

Category Cookies Dessert Holiday Uncategorized

Ingredients

Blondie Ingredients:

• ~ 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) butter
• ~ 1 1/3 c. packed light brown sugar
• ~ 2 large eggs
• ~ ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ~ 1 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
• ~ 2 1/8 c. flour
• ~ 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• ~ 1/4 tsp. salt
• ~ 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ~ 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped (this helps distribute them more evenly throughout
• the batter)
• ~ 4 ounces white baking chocolate, coarsely chopped or 1/2 ­ 2/3 cup white chocolate chips

Frosting / Topping Ingredients:

• ~ 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened (regular or light)
• ~ 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• ~ Pinch salt
• ~ 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ~ 2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest
• ~ 4 oz. white baking chocolate, melted
• ~ 1/2 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F and lightly grease a 9X13 ­inch pan with cooking spray.
2. In a microwave­-safe bowl, melt the butter.
3. Stir in the brown sugar until well­ combined.
4. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest.
5. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon until well combined; then fold in the
6. cranberries and white chocolate.
7. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
8. Bake for 18­-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with moist (not gooey) crumbs. Do NOT over bake!!!
9. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
10. For the frosting, using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt together until light and fluffy (about 2­-3 minutes).
11. Mix in the vanilla.
12. Add about half of the melted chocolate and mix until creamy.
13. Spread the frosting onto the cooled bars.
14. Sprinkle with cranberries and orange zest and drizzle the remaining white chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set.
15. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Tags

Christmas,

cookie bars,

cranberry,

cream cheese,

holiday dessert,

holidays,

orange

© 2026 Copyright Four Sisters Dish, valid date of publication

https://foursistersdish.com/2018/12/13/orange-cranberry-white-chocolate-bars/