Gluten Free Blissful Cranberry Bars

Hi Bakers,

This gluten-free copycat version of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars is delicious, but a bit messy. I kept getting icing all over myself but it was worth it! If a chewy bar cookie packed with orange zest, cranberry, and white chocolate covered in tart cream cheese frosting sounds good to you, this is your recipe. I hope you decide to try these easy and tasty cookies ~Carolyn 

Gluten-Free Copycat Blissfully Cranberry Bars

Adapted from King Arthur Flour recipe for Crazy Blonde Brownies

Dry

1 1/2 cups Cup4Cup all-purpose GF flour

1/2 cup blanched almond flour

1 teaspoon sweet rice flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 cups light brown sugar

2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons orange zest

1 cup white chocolate chips

3/4 cup dried cranberries

Icing

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons orange zest

~ 1/2 cup dried cranberries, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup white chocolate to drizzle on top

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13” pan or jelly roll pan with parchment. I tack down the paper with a few dots of butter between the baking pan and the paper.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk dry ingredients together until combined and set aside.

Melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add brown sugar and stir until smooth. Let cool until warm. Add eggs, and vanilla extract, orange zest and mix thoroughly. Add flour mixture and mix well. Add chips and cranberry and stir in. Scoop and then spread the batter into an even layer* and bake for about 15-18 minutes. The bars are done when browned at the edges but still soft in the middle. They may seem underdone but will firm up as they cool. Make the icing while the bars are cooling. 

In a medium-sized bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest. Spread onto cooled bars in a thin even layer. Sprinkle icing with zest and cranberries. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top. Cool in the fridge and cut into triangles. These are messy but delicious!

*Damp hands work well to spread the dough into the pan thinly.