Starbucks Imitation Cranberry Bliss Bars

Make your own Starbucks Cranberry Bliss bars at home! This recipe is arguably an improvement over the original, the cake is less dense than at Starbucks, which most people have enjoyed. The difficult ingredient in this recipe is candied ginger - most of us not only don't have it, but probably don't even know what it is. Crystallized Ginger is the same thing, and I found it at HEB with the dried fruit and store brand trail mixes. It was on a rack located in/near the produce section. It was cheap as well, just a dollar or two.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup butter, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups brown sugar, packed
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon  ground ginger powder
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1⁄4 cup  minced dried cranberries
• 1⁄4 cup white chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1⁄4 cup  minced candied ginger
• 4  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon  grated  orange rind
• 1⁄4 cup  minced dried cranberries

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13 pan.
2. 2. Beat together butter and sugar and then add eggs and vanilla beating until light and fluffy.
3. 3. Add flour, powdered ginger and salt, beat well.
4. 4. Fold in the cranberries, chocolate chunks and minced candied ginger.
5. 5. Spread batter in pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until light golden brown.
6. 6. After cake cools, mix all frosting ingredients together and spread over top of cake.
7. 7. Sprinkle with minced cranberries, and cut into bars.