Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

I have to admit these bars from Starbucks look divine. Problem is that they're only offered for a short time, cost a pretty penny, and not an option for those of us with dietary laws. I looked up the ingredients on Starbuck's site. This is my take on the bars minus all the preservatives. Starbucks is even marketing a box of six of these as holiday gifts. This recipe makes a fresh, homemade, economical alternative! 

BARS
1 cup butter room temp.
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

FROSTING
3 ounces cream cheese room trmp
2 tablespoons butter room temp
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

TOPPING
1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1  tablespoon grated orange rind
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon canola oil


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 X 13 pan with parchment paper.

BARS: With a mixer, beat together butter and sugar 3-5 minutes until smooth; gently blend in eggs and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking powder, and ginger and beat until just mixed. Add the cranberries and chips, stirring just until mixed.
Spread thick batter in prepared pan. Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes until golden. Don't bake too long or your bars will be dry and crispy. Let cool. 

FROSTING: Blend cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla extract and confectioners sugar and beat until frosting is fluffy and spreadable. Spread over bars.

TOPPING: Sprinkle 1/3 cup dried cranberries and orange zest over frosted bars. Melt white chocolate and oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave 1 minute; stirring every 15 seconds until melted. Use a fork to drizzle the white chocolate across the bars.

Put bars in the fridge one hour to set. To make triangles, cut into 20 large squares. Then cut each square in half diagonally.

Makes 40 smaller triangles or 20 larger squares

Lights (Part II)

I think I could make an entire blog dedicated to lights at this point! More things this cowgirl learned...

It is possible to change the type of light bulbs a light fixture will take. For example, I had a flush mount light I bought at the Restoration Hardware outlet (more on that fabulous place in another post). The problem was that it only took a B10 light bulb. I had a licensed electrician (lights are one area I say do not DIY!) switch out the socket so that the light now takes an A series (AKA normal, standard bulb). The electrician assured me that the light is safe and not a fire hazard.

Dress up plain shades! Shades are one tell tell area that makes lights look big box retail. Get out the glue gun and glue ribbon trim onto the shade. Painting (with a good ole' can of Rustoleum spray paint) the inside of a shade adds interest, makes it look custom, and casts a softer glow.

Hanging lights - a cautionary tale

I didn't know that light bulbs, like electrical appliances, vary between America (110 V) and Europe (220 V). So if you ever get the crazy idea to hit up a Home Depot, load up on light bulbs, and go overseas -- don't do it. You can use light fixtures overseas, just not light bulbs. (the mistake I made was thinking that if the chandelier would work, then surely the bulbs would, too). Strands of lights blow up as well.

Lesson number 2 on my journey -- many, many light fixtures today come with tiny light bulbs that are not sufficient. Check the type of bulbs that monstrous chandelier you found online take. You might be surprised to see how little light it gives off for such a big gal.

Final lesson of the day -- make sure to hang a light fixture that wall mounts high enough. Otherwise you get weird shadows and a middle-aged lady does not want that in her powder room! Better safe than sorry so mount those sconces as high as you can get them.