The Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are essentially an orange zest-kissed blondie studded with cranberries & white chocolate, then topped with cream cheese frosting and MORE berries and chocolate.
This was my most requested remake EVER. I’d never actually tried these before (I know, I know), but so many of you requested them that I got my butt to a Starbucks, and I get it: they’re dang good. This got me thinking, how do I make this into something that feels as good as it looks?
Let’s make these Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars Healthier, Together.
These bars are festive, beautiful, and oh-so-seasonal, and honestly, my version is pretty easy to make.
It’s also totally gluten free and WAY better for your blood sugar, so you can eat one (or 2 or 3!) and still feel good. Paying attention to your blood sugar while eating is so important for your overall health. Dips and spikes related to blood sugar can really affect how you feel throughout the day. Recipes like these Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars include ingredients that let you still enjoy a sweet treat, but not mess with your blood sugar levels.
Almond butter is one star in this ingredient list when it comes to blood sugar control. Nut butters are high in monounsaturated fat, the type of fat linked to reduction in heart disease and better blood sugar control.
Let’s get baking!
These Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars will leave you feeling all warm inside, as all Holiday treats should! If these kicked off a craving for baked goods within you (this happens to me daily), I would suggest making my Healthy Chocolate Chai Cookies and my Healthy French Toast Cinnamon Rolls. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Enjoy, and tag me if you make it on Instagram (@lizmoody)—I can’t wait to see!
Print
Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars (Gluten Free, Vegan Option)
- Yield: 8 Bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted creamy almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 pasture-raised egg (can sub a flax egg)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Zest of one orange
- 2/3 cup each dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, divided
- Simple cream cheese frosting (recipe in notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, stir together the almond butter, maple syrup, egg, vanilla, almond flour, salt, baking soda, and orange zest until smooth.
- Stir in 1/3 cup each of dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
- Plop (it’ll be thick!) into a parchment-lined 8×8” pan and press until it’s even and spreads to the edges.
- Bake 20 min or until edges are just brown, then let cool in pan.
- Remove blondies from pan, then spread with cream cheese frosting if using.
- Cut in half, then turn and cut in half again to make 4 big squares, then cut on each diagonal to make 8 scone-shaped triangles.
- Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cranberries.
- Melt remaining 1/3 cup white chocolate in 15 second intervals in the microwave and drizzle on top.
- Store in fridge and enjoy!
Notes
If you want to include the cream cheese frosting, beat together 8 oz of cream cheese (dairy free is great) and 2/3 cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Category: Dessert
Keywords: Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Hi! These look amazing and I’m super excited to make them! I have a question, though. For the dried cranberries, is it okay to use sweetened ones? Or does it specifically need to be unsweetened ones? I only have sweetened ones on hand.
Hey Jasper,
I’m excited for you to try the recipe! Yes! You can use sweetened ones if that’s convenient, but of course that will have added sugar. The recipe won’t be impacted, though!
xo, Liz
These bars are fantastic! I make them all the time. Thank you for a healthy recipe that tastes better than the original. We can have them year round now!
★★★★★
Hey Brittany,
I’m so glad you love the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
xo, Liz
Love these as well — the frosting of the Starbucks version makes it a bit too rich/sweet for me so loved your suggestion to skip it. To make the chips more pourable for the topping, add a tablespoon of coconut oil melted — no chance of chocolate seizing up and hardens nicely (and vegan for folks who go that way).
★★★★★
Hey WAS,
I’m so glad you love the recipe. Neat tip for the chips!
xo, Liz
I am OBSESSED with these bars. I haven’t tried the Starbucks version and now I never need to. The orange zest makes it so unique and I love the thickness of the bars. 10/10 from me!
Hey Kylie,
I’m so glad you’re as obsessed with these bars as I am!
xo, Liz
This is a great recipe. The whole family loved them and they looked so pretty. I used paleo flour instead of almond flour because that’s what I had. Not sure how it affects the texture but they were so good! Also, I found Lily’s white chocolate chips have a very short window of softness if melting in the microwave. And then they burn! I added a very small amount of milk to the melting chips in order to pour. Worked well. I will definitely make these again. I might try monkfruit syrup instead of maple since I could really feel the sugar.
★★★★★
Hey Erica,
I’m glad you and your family love the recipe. I haven’t personally tried the monkfruit syrup in these bars, but it sounds like an interesting swap!
xo, Liz
These are FANTASTIC. With it without the frosting. So incredibly easy and good. Making more now.
Hey Brie,
I’m so happy to hear you love the recipe as much as I do!
xo, Liz
so close to the real deal and so easy to make!
★★★★★
Hey Tiffany,
I love hearing that this recipe tastes like actual Starbucks bliss bars. Thanks for sharing!
xo, Liz
Loved these! They taste and look lovely. Only thing is that the white chocolate chips don’t melt easily in the microwave. There’s a short semi-soft window and then they burn. I mixed in a touch of milk to loosen them up in order to pour. I’ll definitely make agin.
Hey Ericka,
I’m glad you loved the recipe! Depending on which brand of white chocolate chips you use, combining it with a teensy bit of milk can definitely help smooth it out in the microwave!
xo, Liz
Do you recommend a brand of non dairy cream cheese for these?
Hey Hannah! I love using Kite Hill or Miyoko’s.
So delicious! My best friend is coming during Xmas time and she is gluten free. I wanted to make this « cake » before she comes. My husband and and I just made it. WOW! What a tasty cake. Will definitely make it for when my friend and her family come over. Thank you so much for such a great recipe
Hi Helene,
I’m so glad you love the recipe. I hope your guests do too!
Xo, Liz
No joke, I have been making these more than twice a week for my family. Honestly, I use peanut butter instead of almond butter, and a sugar free keto syrup. I have also subbed that with honey. I die for these. I make the cream cheese for them rarely they are so good without it. If I do use the cream cheese frosting I just use a keto friendly sugar, like Allulose. But OMG 10 STARS.
The timing, the temperature, everything worked perfect for me as well. GREAT RECIPE.
★★★★★
Wow I’m so glad! Using peanut butter sounds delicious—I’ll have to try 🙂
xo, Liz
Omg if I could give this recipe 10 stars, I would!! These were truly amazing!
★★★★★
Hi Cindy,
So glad you loved the recipe!
Xo Liz