I am not a coffee drinker so I don’t frequent coffee shops very often, but one of my favorite winter treat indulgences is a cup of Caramel Apple Cider and a Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar. Both items are seasonal only to a few weeks in the winter, and every year I try to squeeze at least one trip, but this year I wasn’t able to make it. Life with two kids I suppose.

I was craving those Bliss Bars badly one day right after the holidays when it dawned on me maybe I could try to make it myself. I found this copy cat recipe and gave it a try one lazy winter day. Drake had his first ever Bliss Bar and it was gone in a matter of minutes, so I think it was a hit. I’m thrilled to be able to create a seasonal favorite now whenever I want!

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Ingredients for the Cake Bottom

  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 ¼ cups brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger ( I hate ginger so I omitted this)
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp.  salt
  • ¼ cup minced dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup white chocolate
  • ¼ cup minced candied ginger (once again this was left out)

Ingredients for the Icing

  • 4 oz. cream cheese — softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

And extra cranberries and chips for garnish.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350. Mix the butter and brown sugar. Add in the eggs and vanilla and combine til smooth. Next mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Lastly once everything is nicely combined, add in the cranberries and chocolate. Spread into a greased cake pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Take out and let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting, mix the cream cheese and butter together first. Then add in the sugar and vanilla until it’s smooth and spreadable. Ice the cake portion and cut, then decorate with cranberries and chocolate as desired.

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Overall the finished product satisfied my craving nicely. Next time I might use a little less butter as the cake portion was a bit too buttery for my taste, and I might try to spead it thinner in 2 different pans so mine isn’t as thick.

Have you ever tried any copycat recipes? How did they turn out?