Have you ever tried the cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks? Featuring a cranberry-packed blondie bar, these sweet treats are topped with a luscious layer of cream cheese frosting, orange zest, and dried cranberries. Thankfully, these copycat bliss bars are even better than the classic and are made completely dairy and egg free! The base is adapted from my Vegan Blondies recipe, which are always a tasty treat. These vegan holiday treats are easy to love and made up of 3 delicious layers:
Soft and sweet blondie cookie barsRich dairy free cream cheese frostingAnd a tart, citrusy, and sweet glaze
You’ll find the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and soft and chewy with each bite of these dairy free cranberry bliss bars. The recipe makes a large batch, so you’ll always have enough to bring to holiday parties or give away as gifts! Imagine enjoying one while sipping on a hot chocolate or vegan egg nog? YUM! If you’re craving more vegan Starbucks copycat recipes, check out my Lemon Loaf and Pumpkin Scones recipes!
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
Vegan butter – This is the primary source of moisture and fat in the blondies and makes for a rich and creamy frosting. Be sure to use softened vegan butter here, so it blends easily.Brown sugar – The added molasses in brown sugar deepens the color and flavor in vegan cookie bars.Applesauce – Or JUST Egg.Vanilla extractOrange zest – Or orange extract. A little bit of citrus flavor goes a long way and brightens the flavors in the whole dessert. All purpose flour – For gluten free, try a 1:1 gluten free flour blend.Baking powderSaltVegan white chocolate chips – Pascha, Lily’s, and Great Value brands offer vegan white chocolate chips. Dried cranberries – For pops of red and plenty of juicy and tart flavors. They’re a must when you want to recreate the true Starbucks look!Vegan cream cheese – Let it sit at room temperature to soften before blending it into the frosting.Powdered sugar – To sweeten and thicken the vegan cream cheese frosting. Soy milk – Or any unsweetened dairy free milk.
How to make vegan cranberry bliss bars
Start by making the blondie bar base by stirring the melted butter, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and orange zest together. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl and stir until the dough is thick and sticky. Fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and transfer the mixture to your prepared baking pan. Press the dough down evenly with your hands or a spatula. Bake until the top is set and golden brown. It’s frosting time! Beat the cream cheese and vegan butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Lastly, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and orange zest to finish the glaze topping. To assemble the vegan cranberry bliss bars, spread an even layer of frosting over top of the blondie bars and finish by drizzling the glaze on top. Sprinkle the dried cranberries on top and leave the bars to chill and set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. When the bars are firm, slice them into triangles and enjoy!
Tips for making the best cranberry bliss bars
Equipment – You’ll need a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, parchment paper, mixing bowls, and a handheld mixer or a standing mixer to make these bliss bars.Watch the blondies in the oven – The bars can quickly dry out if over baked. Use softened butter for the frosting – Take the vegan butter out of the fridge about 30 minutes ahead of baking so it softens and smoothly blends into the frosting.Glaze consistency – The glaze on top should be pourable but not super thin. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add more milk.
Frequently asked questions
More vegan holiday desserts and treats
Cranberry Orange BreadVegan BlondiesPumpkin SconesVegan Chocolate Peppermint CookiesMini Pumpkin Pies
