COPYCAT STARBUCKS CRANBERRY BLISS BARS [GLUTEN-FREE + DAIRY-FREE OPTION]

Come one, come all, to this recipe. I am telling you this is a gooooood one. I am not sure where it comes from but one of my passions is re-creating classic favourites into healthier or at-least gluten-free options. This is my first recipe in the “Treat Yo’Self” section I am starting on my blog. Because I love health & wellness as much as the next gal, but I also love to get down with gluten-free pizza, mozzarella sticks, & in this case: Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars.

The new section on my blog: treat yo’self

Everything in the this new section of my blog will be #glutenfree because that is my only dietary restriction 100% of the time. I am going to try & include dairy-free options whenever possible, as well as lower sugar options if that is your thing too!

Dairy-free version

For this recipe to make it dairy-free all you need are dairy-free white chocolate chips. These aren’t always easy to find but I did find one brand here. If you find any other good dairy-free or vegan white chocolate brands, let me know in the comments! You could also always make your own, I found a few recipes online. That is a bit of extra work & I have never tried it myself so I can’t say how it would affect the final product. This is a good article on vegan/dairy-free chocolate to help guide you if needed! If you don’t have a dairy allergy or intolerance & are ready to indulge, just use real white chocolate chips & you’re good to go.

Make these lower in sugar

To make this lower in sugar, I would recommend subbing the sugar for Lakanto or a monk-fruit/erythritol based sweetener. I like the classic or golden, but I use the powdered in icings/glazes. I also always recommend keeping an eye out for these at Homesense or Winners, they have some of the best prices I have come across for these products!

Okay, so time to get into things! Make sure to come tag me on Instagram if you make these! If you missed my last post, I am hosting a giveaway until December 12th for everyone that makes my recipe & shares it on their IG story! I am going to pick a winner & send them a little holiday gift! So make sure to tag me so you get entered into that!

-Lau

Need some more holiday recipe inspo?
HEALTHIER DOUBLE CHOCOLATE FUDGE PEPPERMINT COOKIES
HEALTHY EASY PALEO CRANBERRY SAUCE
BLENDER PALEO BANANA APPLE GINGERBREAD LOAF
GLUTEN & DAIRY-FREE GINGERBREAD OATMEAL MAPLE BREAKFAST COOKIES

Print Recipe

COPYCAT STARBUCKS CRANBERRY BLISS BARS [GLUTEN-FREE + DAIRY-FREE OPTION]

Soft, fudgy, tangy, full of flavour all without the gluten (or dairy). These are just like the real deal but will save you money & the gluten!

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Servings

Bars

Ingredients

Cranberry Bliss Bars

• 1/2 cup coconut oil or butter, softened
• 1/4 tsp Pink salt
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 1/2 cup sugar (for lower sugar sub with monk fruit, I used organic cane sugar)
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 2 Eggs
• 1 + 1/3 cup gluten-free baking flour I like the President Choice All-Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Flour or Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking Flour
• 1/2 cup cranberries, dried plus more to add on top
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips or you can use a bar & chop it into chunks
• 1 tbsp orange zest plus more to add on top
• 2 tbsp fresh orange juice

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

• 1 cup Cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white chocolate, melted plus more to drizzle over the finished bars
• 1/4 tsp orange extract
• 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
• 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar use powdered Lakanto for lower sugar

Vegan White Chocolate “Cream Cheese” Icing

• 1 cup raw cashews soaked overnight or at least 4 hours
• 5-6 tbsp dairy-free creamer I like Silk or Nut-Pods
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• Pinch pink salt
• 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
• 3-4 tbsp Maple Syrup use sugar-free maple syrup for a lower sugar option
• 1-4 tbsp powdered sugar * optional until your reach your desired consistency (use powdered Lakanto for a lower sugar option)
• 1/2 cup dairy-free white chocolate, melted

Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Servings Bars Ingredients Cranberry Bliss Bars 1/2 cup coconut oil or butter, softened 1/4 tsp Pink salt 1 tsp Baking soda 1/2 cup sugar (for lower sugar sub with monk fruit, I used organic cane sugar) 1 tsp Vanilla extract 2 Eggs 1 + 1/3 cup gluten-free baking flour I like the President Choice All-Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Flour or Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking Flour 1/2 cup cranberries, dried plus more to add on top 1/3 cup white chocolate chips or you can use a bar & chop it into chunks 1 tbsp orange zest plus more to add on top 2 tbsp fresh orange juice White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing 1 cup Cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup white chocolate, melted plus more to drizzle over the finished bars 1/4 tsp orange extract 1 tbsp fresh orange juice 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar use powdered Lakanto for lower sugar Vegan White Chocolate “Cream Cheese” Icing 1 cup raw cashews soaked overnight or at least 4 hours 5-6 tbsp dairy-free creamer I like Silk or Nut-Pods 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract Pinch pink salt 2 tbsp fresh orange juice 3-4 tbsp Maple Syrup use sugar-free maple syrup for a lower sugar option 1-4 tbsp powdered sugar * optional until your reach your desired consistency (use powdered Lakanto for a lower sugar option) 1/2 cup dairy-free white chocolate, melted

Instructions

Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper & set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened coconut oil or butter with the sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients to combine.
3. Spread over your prepared baking tray until you have your desired thickness. Mine was about 1/2-3/4 of an inch thick & I baked it for about 12 minutes. If you make a thicker bar you may have to slightly increase baking time, & vice versa with a thinner bar.
4. Bake in the oven for 12-13 minutes, keeping an eye on the bars so they do not burn. I like to slightly under-bake mine so when they are cooled they are rich, dense & fudgy.
5. Once they are slightly browned on top, remove from the oven & let cool before icing. Once cooled, ice, then top with more cranberries, orange rind (grated), & a drizzle of melted white chocolate if desired. Slice into bars & enjoy!

Icing (regular)

1. Beat the softened cream cheese in a medium sized mixing bowl until it is light, fluffy & no clumps are left.

Icing (vegan)

1. Add all of your ingredient to a high speed blender & blend until smooth & creamy. Depending on your blender you may have to scrape the side regularly to get things going. You can add a bit more creamer as needed & powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. When I made this one it was less thick & creamy compared to the regular, but if this happens & you want it thicker, simply add a few tbsp of powdered sugar to reach that consistency.