Cranberry Bliss Bars

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
• 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 large egg
• ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 ⅓ cups powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• milk (to thin )
• ⅛ teaspoon finely grated orange zest (optional)
• ¼ cup white chocolate chips (melted (see note)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Bars:
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x11 pan with foil and grease the foil.
3. Wet ingredients
4. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until well combined, at least one full minute. Add egg and vanilla extract, whisk until combined.
5. Dry ingredients
6. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until the ingredients are combined. Stir in ½ cup of dried cranberries and ½ cup of white chocolate chips.
7. Add to pan
8. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer (I moisten the palm of my hand with water and gently press it in).
9. Bake for 18-22 minutes. The bars are done when they have puffed slightly, are very light brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. They will appear a little underdone but they will continue to cook as they cool. Be careful not to over bake them. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
10. Frosting:
11. Frosting
12. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest (if using) and beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add a splash of milk, if necessary, to thin the frosting. You can also thicken the frosting by adding a bit more powdered sugar, if necessary.
13. Topping
14. Spread the bars with the frosting . Scatter the dried cranberries on top. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the cranberries.