White Chocolate Cranberry Bars

Anyone who has been to Starbucks has seen and tried their delectable White Chocolate Cranberry Bars. They are delicious, and I currently have a truckload of cranberry products in my house leftover from the holidays. This is an excellent way to use them up, and they will be devoured in minutes. The bars consist of blondies with white chocolate and cranberries covered with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting. To top it all off, they are sprinkled with more cranberries and drizzled with even more white chocolate. The tartness of the cranberries pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the white chocolate. If you love oranges, try adding some orange zest to the batter. They are fairly simple to make and they taste amazing!

1 1/2 Sticks Butter

1 1/2 Cups Light Brown Sugar

2 Eggs
3/4 tsp Vanilla
2 1/4 Cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
1 Cup Dried Cranberries
2 Cups White Chocolate Chips
8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
1 Cup Powdered Sugar

Heat oven to 350F. Line a 9x13" pan with parchment and grease.

Melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer and cool to room temperature. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and gradually add to the butter mixture. Fold in 1/2 cup cranberries and 1 cup white chocolate.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until cooked through.

Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Melt the remaining white chocolate and add half to the mixture. Spread onto the blondes and sprinkle with remaining cranberries. Drizzle with remaining white chocolate.

Makes 24
Recipe Adapted from Lori Lange of www.recipegirl.com