RECIPE: REC: Cranberry Bliss Bars - TDF!! Posted by Cheezz ...YUM

RECIPE:
gayle-mo

gayle-mo

Well-known member
I made a ton of these last year and they were devoured by all who tasted! Thought it was time for a reminder. smileys/smile.gif

They only make these at Christmastime...

Starbuck's Cranberry Bliss Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups uncooked quick cooking oats

3/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar; divided

1 cup softened butter or margarine

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce

Preheat oven 350°F degrees. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 baking pan. In large bowl combine flour, oats 3/4 cup sugar and butter, mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture for topping - press the rest into the greased pan. Bake 15 minutes. Cool completely.

In large bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy, gradually mix in condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. Pour evenly over crust. In small bowl combine remaining sugar, cornstarch and cranberry sauce. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle reserve crumb mixture over top. Bake 40 minutes. Cool at room temperature, refrigerate before cutting. Store in refrigerator.

http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=8&msgid=36

 
Gayle, here is another recipe. I've tried both and I feel these are

closer to what Starbucks make, but this is just my opinion!! I'm not sure they use the oats in their recipe. However, this is just another version,they are both good!! Give this a try sometime, and let me know what you think.
For Cake Base:
2 sticks margarine (or butter if you want to indulge) -- softened
1 and 1/4 cups brown sugar-- packed
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup minced dried cranberries
1/4 cup Lindt or Perugina or other quality white chocolate -- coarsely chopped
1/4 cup minced candied ginger


For Frosting:
4 ounce cream cheese -- softened
1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons butter -- softened
1 teaspoon vanilla


For Garnish:
2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries
1/3 cup white chocolate chips (e.g. Ghiradelli or Guittard) -- melted
Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

Beat butter and sugar together for the cake base, and add eggs/vanilla beating until fluffy. Sift together flour, ginger, and salt and then add to the butter/sugar mixture beating well. Fold in the cranberries, chocolate and ginger. Spread thick batter in pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden.

When cake is cooled, mix all frosting ingredients together and spread a thin layer over the cake. Immediately sprinkle with the minced cranberries. Then use a cake decorating bag of melted white chocolate with a tiny decorating tip (like the size used for writing on cakes) and drizzle the chocolate over the cake.

Cut this into bars immediately because the white chocolate hardens pretty fast and makes cake cutting messy.




User reviews for this popular recipe have been very good.

 
OK, here's my review on the "ORIGINAL" Starbucks bars...

I stopped by one last week and bought their cranberry bliss bar. What a MAJOR disappointment! It was just AWFUL compared with the one I posted as the original... the one GayleMO has linked us to (my previous posting) is just so far better, even if it isn't the "original".

 
Cheezz....Thanks for reporting!

I rarely go to Starbuck's so had never tried their bars. I have to admit that I've turned into somewhat of a coffee snob. My daughter and son-in-law travel a lot and keep me in Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain beans so I make my own espresso drinks at home.

I just know that when I made your Cranberry Bliss recipe last year they never lasted long and people raved over them! I know I made it at least 4 times during the holidays.

Thanks for your take, Cheezz. I think I'll stick with the original recipe, even though they do have oats. I loved the flavor! I might grind them into oat flour and try it that way, too. But, the recipe is awesome just as it is!

I appreciate your posting it. It's a real keeper, hon! I nearly made it for Thanksgiving but I baked so many pies I decided to wait.

Hope you had a great Turkey Day!

 
I never go to Starbucks... awful coffee... but it's near the outlet malls and we stopped by

once for something sweet... very disappointing baked goods. Their little brownie snowballs they had last Christmas were AWESOME but they have decided not to have them again -- another reason NOT to go to Starbucks.

Anyway, thanks and yes I had a wonderful Thanksgiving - made 3 pies and sweet potato rolls. Now I have to gear up for Christmas baking!

 
THE WORST COFFEE! There's a difference between roasting and burning which is lost on them....

although when they're all that's available (having put all the mom 'n pops out of business), the lattes, being half milk, are OK.

I've never eaten a single baked item there that was worth the calories. YUCK! I asked once where they bake them and I was told that the recipes belong to Starbucks but they farm them out to local companies.

Can you say "lowest bidder?"

 
I like that... we should put it on a t-shirt and stand in front of a Starbucks smileys/smile.gif

 
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