Recipe by: Barbara Martinez
Our Recipe Books features a unique collection of authentic Texas home-cooking recipes straight from the heart of the Homestead Heritage community, where tradition and wholesome ingredients come together to create mouthwatering meals.
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December 22, 2025
These Winter Bliss Cranberry Bars are soft, rich, and perfectly festive — a blondie-style base studded with white chocolate and cranberries, topped with a creamy citrus-kissed frosting and finished with a classic white chocolate drizzle. Bright, indulgent, and unmistakably wintery, this is the sweet treat I personally look forward to every holiday season.
Preheat the oven to 350 °F°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter (1 packed cup) and brown sugar (1 ¼ cups) until smooth and glossy.
Add the eggs (2 large), vanilla extract (2 tsp), and orange extract (½ tsp). Mix until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour (2 ¼ cups), ground ginger (1 ½ tsp), baking powder (½ tsp), and salt (½ tsp).
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
Fold in the white chocolate chips (¾ cup) and dried cranberries (¾ cup).
Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
The batter will be thick, similar to cookie dough.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the center is just set and the edges are lightly golden.
Do not overbake — the bars should be soft and blondie-like, not cakey.
Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
Beat the cream cheese (8 oz)and butter (4 Tbsp) together until smooth and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar (2 cups), vanilla extract (½ tsp), and orange zest (½ tsp). Beat until light and fluffy.
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
Sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries (½ cup) and orange zest evenly over the frosting.
Drizzle with melted white chocolate (4 oz) in thin zig-zags.
Chill for at least 30 minutes before slicing for cleaner cuts.
Slice into triangles. Enjoy!
For the cleanest slices, wipe your knife between cuts.
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