Our take on the Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars! This is a healthier vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free version that is super easy to make and tastes just like the classic Starbucks version.
OK guys! I am officially hooked on a dessert that I truly never thought I’d be obsessed with..
CRANBERRY BLISS BARS! Except I cannot take credit for this idea whatsoever. This is a Starbucks classic. And one that is very very popular apparently. The mix of tarty flavor from the cranberry and sweetness from the white chocolate truly are some of the best flavors combined in this fancy blondie. I love it so much and they are a delicious dessert to make for the holidays.
The Cranberry Bliss Bars are a seasonal treat but now with this copycat version you can be making these all year round!
Oh and we didn’t even get to the cream cheese frosting on top! The best way to top these bars off. And this recipe is even vegan and gluten-free. So if you love Starbucks and their cranberry bliss bars. But want ones that are healthier – here you go baby.
I have a feeling you are going to love these so so much!
I can’t wait to hear what you think!!
What ingredients are in these copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bars:
- Creamy almond butter
- Flax egg (1 tablespoon Garden of Life Organic Ground Flaxseed + 3 tablespoons warm water)
- Coconut sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Non-dairy milk
- Gluten-free oat flour (or any 1 to 1 gluten-free flour can work)
- Baking soda
- Orange
- Craisins (dried cranberries)
- White chocolate chips
- Vegan cream cheese (or regular works too), softened at room temp
- Powdered sugar
Instructions on how to make healthier Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line/grease an 8×8 baking dish well
- In a large bowl, mix together almond butter, egg, coconut sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth
- Mix in your dry ingredients of flour and baking soda until fully combined
- Fold in orange zest, craisins, and white chocolate chips
- Spread batter across baking dish and add to oven to bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden and you stick a toothpick in and it turns out clean
- Allow the bars to cool completely and while they do make the frosting
- Stir together frosting ingredients in a medium bowl until creamy. (I like using a hand mixer)
- Spread across bars and sprinkle desired craisins and white chocolate drizzle if desired
- Cut into triangles and enjoy!
Tips for success on making your own healthier copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars:
- Make sure not to skip on a mix of the drizzle of melted white chocolate and white chocolate chips.
- Slicing the bars can get a little tricky, Its all about the diagonals and try to trace it out before cutting!
- While making the cream cheese frosting, make sure to get the cream cheese to room temperature. Also only use powdered sugar, a granular sugar or a brown sugar wont give you the consistency were looking for.
- Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week. I like to layer in some parchment paper to make sure nothing sticks together. Let it sit out for 5 minutes to help bring to room temperature before eating, or if you don’t have any patience like me, microwave for a couple of seconds. The bars should last in the fridge for up to 5 to 7 days.
- I’m a big fan on freezing desserts, wrap in aluminum foil and place into a freezer safe bag. Can be stored for a couple of months.
- I’ve made these vegan and gluten free, but if you don’t have those ingredients on hand a regular egg and all purpose flour will work as well.
A few other delicious dessert recipes to make:
Crazy Good Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies (gluten-free)
INSANE Gluten-free Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious Gluten-free Lemon Olive Oil Pound Cake
Epic Gluten-free Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (vegan)
Our take on the Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars! This is a healthier vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free version.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
Yield: Makes about 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
Cranberry bliss bars:
- 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
- 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon Garden of Life Organic Ground Flaxseed + 3 tablespoons warm water) or egg works
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 cup gluten-free oat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Zest of 1 orange
- 2/3 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips
Cream cheese frosting:
- 4 ounces vegan cream cheese (or regular works too), softened at room temp
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional on top: extra craisins and white chocolate drizzled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line/grease an 8×8 baking dish well
- In a large bowl, mix together almond butter, egg, coconut sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth
- Mix in your dry ingredients of flour and baking soda until fully combined
- Fold in orange zest, craisins, and white chocolate chips
- Spread batter across baking dish and add to oven to bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden and you stick a toothpick in and it turns out clean
- Allow the bars to cool completely and while they do make the frosting
- Cream together frosting ingredients in a medium bowl until creamy
- Spread across bars and sprinkle desired craisins and white chocolate drizzle if desired
- Cut into triangles and enjoy!
Notes
*Store leftovers in fridge for 5 days
Lauren
These look delicious! However for people looking for a true vegan or dairy free recipe (I have a close friend who is DF), be aware that the white chocolate chips contain milk and thus they are not vegan/dairy-free. It’s pretty clear on the ingredients list for the linked product.
I may still make these, but either modify recipe to be fully vegan, find out if vegan white chocolate chips actually exist, or not serve to my vegan & dairy-free friends.
Sydney Forman
★★★★★
These are so goood!!!! I love Starbucks’ treats, but they are too sweet and unhealthy, so this is perfect and perfect for the holidays! Thanks for the recipe!!
Rachel
yayyy thank you!
Lauren
Hey Rachel!
If I don’t have almond butter would coconut oil or peanut butter work as a substitute?
Thanks!
Rachel
any creamy nut butter!!!
Carissa
★★★★★
Holy sh**. This is one of the best treats I’ve ever made. Honestly. I hate to admit that I usually love the Starbucks cranberry bliss bars. They remind me of the holidays, and I always end up getting more of them than I’d like to every year. I will actually never buy one again after making these!!! This is what they SHOULD taste like. The flavor in this recipe is unmatched. So fresh. The texture is amazing. I could go on and on. I did a blind taste test with my fiancé who usually doesn’t like the healthier versions of sweets. He immediately said “that one’s bad, throw it out” about the Starbucks one and said Rachel’s recipe was the winner by far. That’s how I know this recipe is really that good haha! 10/10 on this, Rachel. I can’t stop eating them lol.
Rachel
omg thank you so much!!!!!!!