Holiday favorite · bake it any time
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
The four layers that make a Cranberry Bliss Bar, when Starbucks brings them back, and a 24-bar home recipe with an orange cream cheese frosting, plus gluten-free and storage tips.
Quick answer. A Cranberry Bliss Bar is a soft cranberry and white chocolate blondie topped with cream cheese frosting, more dried cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle, cut into triangles. It is a Starbucks holiday treat, expected back with the holiday menu on November 5, 2026. Until then, the recipe below makes 24 at home.
Four Layers of Bliss
| Layer | What it is | home version tip |
|---|---|---|
| Blondie base | Brown sugar butter cake, chewy like a blondie, with dried cranberries and white chocolate | Melted butter + brown sugar gives the chew |
| Cream cheese frosting | Sweet, tangy and thick | A little orange zest brightens it |
| Dried cranberries | Scattered on top for color and tartness | Chop them so they stick |
| White chocolate drizzle | Thin lines across the top | Thin with coconut oil for clean lines |
Taste: buttery and sweet like a blondie, with tart pops of cranberry and a creamy, slightly tangy frosting.
At Starbucks: Availability, Trays and Nutrition
- Season: holiday only, usually from early November through the holidays while supplies last.
- Trays: some stores have offered whole Cranberry Bliss Bar trays for gatherings; ask your store or check the app.
- Nutrition: Starbucks removes seasonal nutrition when items leave the menu and has not posted 2026 figures yet; we will add them when it does.
Other holiday treats include the Sugar Plum Cheese Danish; see the cheese danish recipe and the full holiday menu. A slice pairs well with a Caramel Brulée Latte or a simple Americano. Year-round bakery items are on our food menu.
How to make Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cranberry white chocolate blondie
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional, for warmth)
- ¾ cup (90 g) dried cranberries
- ¾ cup (130 g) white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
Orange cream cheese frosting
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- ½ cup (60 g) dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 2 oz (55 g) white chocolate, melted with 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Prep. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.
- Make the blondie batter. Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar until glossy, then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt and ginger just until combined, then fold in the cranberries and white chocolate.
- Bake. Spread evenly in the pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Make the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then beat in the powdered sugar, orange zest and vanilla until fluffy.
- Frost and top. Spread the frosting over the cooled blondie, sprinkle with chopped cranberries and drizzle with the melted white chocolate.
- Chill and cut. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set. Lift out, cut into 12 rectangles, then cut each diagonally into 2 triangles (24 bars).
Tips and variations
- Do not overbake. A few moist crumbs on the toothpick keeps the base chewy.
- Cool completely before frosting, or the cream cheese will melt and slide.
- Gluten-free: use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum.
- Lighter: halve the frosting and spread it thinly; skip the drizzle.
- Cranberry orange bars: add 1 tablespoon orange zest to the blondie batter.
- Cranberry bliss cookies: scoop the blondie batter into 2-tablespoon balls and bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350°F; frost and decorate once cool.
- Clean cuts: chill the frosted slab, then cut with a hot, dry knife, wiping between cuts.
Storage
Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days; let bars sit 10 minutes at room temperature before serving. Freeze the unfrosted blondie up to 3 months, or freeze frosted bars on a tray until firm, then wrap individually.
Watch: Cranberry Bliss Bars at home
Cranberry Bliss Bar FAQs
What is a Cranberry Bliss Bar?
A Starbucks holiday treat: a soft blondie with dried cranberries and white chocolate, topped with sweet cream cheese frosting, more dried cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle, cut into triangles.
When is the Cranberry Bliss Bar available at Starbucks?
It is a seasonal holiday item. Starbucks’ holiday menu is expected to return on November 5, 2026, and the bars usually stay through the holiday season while supplies last.
How many calories are in a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar?
Starbucks removes nutrition for seasonal items when they leave the menu and has not yet posted 2026 figures. Check the Starbucks app once the holiday menu launches.
Can you buy a whole tray of Cranberry Bliss Bars?
Some stores have offered Cranberry Bliss Bar trays during the holidays. Availability varies, so check the app or ask your store.
Can I make Cranberry Bliss Bars gluten-free?
Yes. Swap the flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour with xanthan gum; the bars are slightly more delicate, so chill well before cutting.
Why are my bars dry?
They were overbaked. Pull them when a toothpick still shows a few moist crumbs; blondies firm up as they cool.
How do I store Cranberry Bliss Bars?
Because of the cream cheese frosting, keep them covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze unfrosted blondie for up to 3 months, or freeze frosted bars on a tray, then wrap.
Availability is based on Starbucks’ expected November 5, 2026 holiday launch and varies by store. Official nutrition will be added when Starbucks publishes it. Homemade nutrition varies. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
