Knock Off {Cranberry Bliss Bars}

Cranberry Bliss Bars...

you know, the ones from Starbucks?

Totally awesome, right!?

Well, the other night

I was wasting time on Pintrest {again}

and came across a copy cat recipe for them!

I know what you're thinking -

"WHAAAAT!"

Yeah, that's what I said, too! ;)

Ingredients

{Recipe adapted from Averie Cooks}

1 stick Butter, melted

1 cup Brown Sugar 

1 Egg

Vanilla Beans, scraped from 1 pod

1 cup Flour, all purpose

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 cup Dried Cranberries, lightly chopped

1/2 cup White Chocolate Chunks {or chips}

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chop dried cranberries and set aside. If using a white chocolate bar rather than chips, chop into small chunks and set aside.

Grease a baking pan {I used a 9 inch round, but if you want smaller slices, an 8x8 inch square will be your best bet. If you want to double the recipe for a large batch, use a 9x13 inch rectangle pan.} and set aside.

In a medium size bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla beans {1 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract can also be used} with a wooden spoon. Add in flour and salt and stir just until the thick batter comes together. Next, stir in white chocolate and cranberries making sure not to over mix. Pour batter into your pan and bake for 18-20 minutes. Invert onto a pretty little plate and let cool completely before frosting the top. While the bars are cooling, prepare the 

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. Cream Cheese

1 cup White Chocolate, melted in a double broiler

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup Powder Sugar

1/4 cup Dried Cranberries, lightly chopped 

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, 2/3 cup of the melted white chocolate and vanilla extract until combined. Slowly add powder sugar {note: you may need a little more or a little less sugar, depending on your frosting consistency preference}and beat on med-high for several minutes. 

When the bars have cooled, smooth the frosting on top with a spatula or knife. Sprinkle chopped cranberries on top and drizzle with remaining melted chocolate. Cut into slices or squares and serve! YUM! If you wish to slice in triangles like Starbucks, simply first cut into squares and then make a second cut across {from corner to corner} each square.

Whoa, momma!
These things are magical morsels
of pure happiness!

The bar is moist and chewy
with just the right amount of
sweet texture from the white chocolate.

But, you know what really put these over the edge?
The tart bite from those
dried cranberries!

Starbucks ain't got nothin'

on this recipe, baby dolls!

Not only would they look amazing

on a Christmas dessert table,

but your guests will also go ga-ga over the taste!

You could always bake up

a huge batch

for gift giving, too!

Or, keep the whole pan for yourself!

I think I'm indulging in another

blissful moment after dinner!

Enjoy and Happy Baking!

Yeah, I partied this week ->
Check out where on my sidebar!

Peanut Butter Bar Brownies

Have you started thinking about Valentine's Day yet?

Still unsure about what to get your sweetie?

Well, I have a SIMPLE and sure to please gift!

And, it's SUPER SWEET!

This idea came from a very sweet friend who told me about a variation of the recipe I used. When she said it was a two layer brownie with a candy bar in the center, my mind started whirling with ideas and flavor combinations.

The first one had to be peanut butter though- it's my hub's favorite!

Here's What You Need:

• Your favorite brownie recipe
• 1/2 cup chopped mini Reese's cups
• 2 large Reese's chocolate bars

I used a traditional brownie recipe I had in my recipe drawer, but you can use any your sweetie loves! You could even use a box mix if you wanted to! {Little tip: To make mixes taste

homemade, add 2 tsp. instant coffee and 1 tsp. vanilla to batter. I promise he'll never know it came from a box!} I just stirred in the chopped Reese's cups when I got the batter together.

Grease an 8x8 square pan (if you're wanting to do a 9x13, you'll have to double this recipe) and pour half the batter into the pan. Remove the candy bars' wrappers and place on top of batter. Make sure you buy the large bars {around $2/bar}, otherwise it won't fit right.

Cover the candy bars with the remaining brownie batter and bake according to your recipe's instruction.

My friend gave me the tip of reducing the cook time by 5 minutes, so that the brownies would be a little more ooey gooey. I did this and it worked perfect! Thanks so much Amanda for the awesome idea!

So, does your sweetie not really like peanut butter?

NO PROBLEM!

Try:

• Hershey or Hershey Dark
• Hershey's Cookies and Cream or Symphony
• Ghirardelli Mint, Caramel, Raspberry, etc.

Use your imagination and his favorite things to come up with the perfect recipe for your man!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Parties I Linked To:

Sweet As Sugar Cookies

Someday Crafts
MOM'S CRAZY COOKING