White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
- Kim
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
These White Chocolate Cranberry Bars are an easy, festive dessert made with a rich butter base, sweet white chocolate, and tart cranberries. Soft, chewy, and full of flavor, they’re perfect for holiday baking, cookie trays, or anytime you need a simple treat everyone will love.
These White Chocolate Cranberry Bars are everything I love about the holiday season baked into one perfect treat. With a chewy blondie base and tart cranberries, this dessert is sweet and tangy with a homemade touch that makes it a favorite holiday treat for holiday cookie trays or gifting.
This recipe came from my friend and neighbor, and we love sharing recipes. This one is definitely a keeper. I have made it using both dark brown sugar and light brown sugar, and I prefer the light brown sugar version. The bars bake up lighter in color and have more of a classic cookie bar look. They are absolutely delicious!
These White Chocolate Cranberry Bars start with a buttery blondie batter made from butter and brown sugar for just the right balance. The sweetness of the white chocolate, combined with dried cranberries, creates a flavor combination that’s hard to beat. Whether you call them white chocolate cranberry bars, white chocolate cranberry cookie bars, or even white chocolate chip cranberry cookies in bar form, they’re a great dessert for any gathering.
What You Need
Butter, softened
Light Brown Sugar
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
All Purpose Flour
Baking Powder
Salt
White Chocolate Chips
Dried Cranberries (like Crasins)
More Delicious Desserts
Tips for Perfect White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
Use a mix of white chocolate chips, white baking chocolate, or white chocolate bars chopped into chunks of white chocolate for a delicious white chocolate flavor.
Optional finish with a drizzle of white chocolate over the top of the bars, using a spoon or piping bag.
Add walnuts or your favorite nut.
This recipe also makes delicious cookies; just adjust baking time to 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown and the center is set.
How to Make White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13-inch pan with non stick cooking spray or line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang (this makes lifting the bars out easy and keeps the top of the bars neat). You can also lightly grease and line with aluminum foil if that’s what you have on hand. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients including 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt and set aside.
Step 2: Use a large bowl for the wet ingredients. Combine 1 cup softened butter, 2 cups light brown sugar, 2 eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix on low speed at first, then medium speed until smooth. Gradually add the prepared flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the cookie dough.
Above Left: Brown sugar, eggs, butter and vanilla ready to be mixed. Above Right: Dry ingredients added to wet ingredients.
Step 3: Before folding in your white chocolate chips and dried cranberries, toss them in flour to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the pan! Fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and mix until well combined. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Let the bars cool in the pan briefly, then transfer to a wire rack using the parchment paper overhang. Once at room temperature, cut and enjoy!
Above Left: Batter spread into prepared pan. Above Right: Baked and cooling.
How to Store White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
Store leftovers in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper for 2-3 days. They will keep well for several days in the refrigerator.
These White Chocolate Cranberry Bars are one of those desserts that disappear fast. They’re soft, rich, and festive and an easy dessert recipe that feels special enough for celebrations yet simple enough for everyday baking. Whether you’re making them for a holiday cookie trays or just have a craving, this blondie bar delivers every time. They are Forkin' Good!
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