Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars

By Becky Hardin

Updated Nov 13, 2025

Cranberry bliss bars are a wintertime favorite I used to treat myself to at Starbucks. Now, with this easy copycat cranberry bliss bar recipe, I can make them at home whenever the craving hits. Chewy, sweet, and full of winter flavors, now I can enjoy them all season long.

Sliced cranberry bliss bars on a black platter. - 5

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Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Cranberry bliss bars are a classic Starbucks treat that’s only available during the winter. They are so popular that whenever I’d run in to grab one they’d be sold out, much to my dismay.

Similar to blondies with cranberries and white chocolate, I love how soft, chewy, and full of cranberry flavor they are. I find them completely irresistible, and now I can make them at home. They are perfect to pair with an afternoon coffee or tea for the holiday season. I love adding them to cookie trays and exchanges!

Ingredients1x2x3x

For the Bars

▢ 1 cup salted butter 226g, melted (2 sticks)
▢ 1½ cups brown sugar 320g
▢ 2 large eggs 100 g, room temperature
▢ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4 g
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour 240g
▢ 1 tsp baking powder 4g
▢ ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
▢ ¼ tsp kosher salt
▢ ¾ cup dried cranberries 128g, any dried fruit works
▢ ¾ cup white chocolate chips 128g

For the Frosting

▢ 8 oz. cream cheese 227g, room temperature (1 brick)
▢ 1 cup powdered sugar 113g
▢ ½ tsp pure vanilla extract 2g
▢ ½ cup dried cranberries 85g, chopped
▢ ½ cup white chocolate chips 85g, melted

Video

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the butter and brown sugar together until well combined. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. 1 cup salted butter, 1½ cups brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together. 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp kosher salt
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate chips. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to fully incorporate all of the ingredients. ¾ cup dried cranberries, ¾ cup white chocolate chips
Press the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading into an even layer.
Bake for 17-19 minutes, until golden brown. Let the bars cool.
While the bars are cooling, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract with a hand mixer until smooth. 8 oz. cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Spread the frosting over the cooled bars. Then, sprinkle the chopped cranberries and drizzle the melted chocolate over the top. ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup white chocolate chips
Refrigerate the bars for at least 20 minutes to allow the frosting to set before cutting.

Equipment

Kitchen Scale (optional)
9×13 Baking Pan
Hand Mixer

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Step by Step

Get the oven going and prepare a baking sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar : In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of butter and 1½ cups of brown sugar until well combined. Add 2 eggs and 1 tsp of vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.

Combine the dry ingredients : In a separate bowl, whisk 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt.

Adding cranberries and white chocolate chips to the bliss bar batter. - 6

Combine the wet and dry ingredients : Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir ¾ cup of cranberries and ¾ cup white chocolate chips. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to fully incorporate all of the ingredients.

Spreading the batter into the prepared baking pan. - 7

Transfer the batter to the pan : Press the batter into the baking pan, smoothing it into an even layer.

Bake: Bake for 17-19 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the bars cool.

Make the icing : While the bars are cooling, beat 8 oz. of cream cheese, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and ½ tsp of vanilla extract with a hand mixer until smooth.

Spreading the cream cheese frosting over the bars. - 8

Frost the bars : Spread the frosting over the cooled bars.

Topping the bars with dried cranberries and melted white chocolate. - 9

Then, sprinkle ½ cup of chopped cranberries and drizzle ½ cup of melted chocolate over the top.

Side image of cranberry bliss bars with frosting. - 10

Refrigerate and serve : Refrigerate the bars for at least 20 minutes to allow the frosting to set before cutting. Enjoy!

How to Store

Store uneaten bliss bars in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Eat straight from the fridge or bring to room temperature.

These bars freeze beautifully. Allow the bars to cool and set completely before cutting into slices. Place the slices in a Ziplock bag and set it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.

Holding up an iced cranberry bliss bar. - 11

Serving Suggestions

Since these are a copycat Starbucks treat, it only makes sense to pair them with a coffee! I like to snack on them with a bulletproof coffee or an iced caramel macchiato . Though sometimes I’ll whip up an iced honey cinnamon latte , or a festive gingerbread latte .

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overhead sliced cranberry bliss bars on black platter - 20

Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

Equipment

Kitchen Scale (optional)
9x13 Baking Pan
Hand Mixer