Orange-Cranberry Bliss Bars

By á-830

Ingredients

• BARS:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp orange oil, or 2 tsp orange extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• CREAMY ORANGE FROSTING:
• one 3 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp orange oil
• GARNISH:
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp grated orange zest
• DRIZZLE:
• 8 ounces white chocolate, chopped
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 15x10 inch jelly roll pan with a silicone liner, aluminum foil, or parchment paper. If using the foil or parchment paper, coat with a nonstick cooking spray.

2. To make the bars, with an electric mixer, beat together the butter, brown and granulated sugars, eggs, and orange oil in a large bowl until combined. Add the flour, baking powder and spices and beat until the flour blends into the batter, 45 second to 1 minute. Add cranberries and chips, stirring just to blend and being careful not to over mix. Spread in prepared pan and bake until a skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbled adhering to it, 15-17 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan places on a a rack.

3. To make the frosting, with an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until fluffy, or process in a food processor. Add the powdered sugar and orange oil and beat or process until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Spread it evenly over cooled bars.

4. For the garnish, sprinkle the frosted bars with orange zest, then sprinkle with the cranberries and white chocolate chips.

5. To make the drizzle, in the top of the double boiler set over simmering water, melt the white chocolate with the butter, stirring until smooth. Alternately, melt the chocolate in the microwave, according to the package directions, adding butter half way through and stir until smooth. Using a spoon, drizzle over the frosting and garnish in a decorative pattern.