This recipe also uses a blonde cake base and cream cheese frosting. Instead of the traditional orange glaze, this version uses a white chocolate icing drizzle. Just as good as the original and you can have the whole pan to yourself! Although, it is suggested, and good manners to find someone to share them with.
More favorite Cookie Recipes and Secrets To Making Perfect Cookies. Also learn How To Have A Successful Holiday Cookie Exchange or Cookie Swap.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 1/4 cups (firmly-packed) light brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ginger, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cranberries, dried and minced
- 1 1/2 ounces white chocolate (such as Ghirardelli brand), chopped
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, minced
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
- Pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup cranberries, dried and minced
- 1 ounce white chocolate
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar), sifted
- 1 teaspoon milk
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and then butter the paper, or use the Silicone Baking Mats to prevent the cookies from sticking.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; continue mixing until light. Sift together flour, ground ginger and salt; add to the butter-sugar mixture. Continue mixing until flour is incorporated. Fold in dried cranberries, chocolate, and crystallized ginger. Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely in pan before frosting.
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Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting.
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Remove cake from pan and trim off the edges so cake is uniformly flat. Using an offset spatula or the back of a large spoon, uniformly spread the frosting onto top of cake. Sprinkle minced dried cranberries on top of frosting and refrigerate for 1 hour.
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Prepare White Chocolate Drizzle. Drizzle White Chocolate Drizzle decoratively over the entire frosted cake top.
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To serve, slice the cake lengthwise down the center, making two long rectangles. Cut each rectangle into four equal portions; slice each of these in half diagonally.
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In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and salt until well mixed.
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In a small saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, whisk in powdered sugar and milk until well-mixed. Scrape into a small, sturdy plastic bag; cut a tiny corner of the bag and squeeze to decorate.
Source: This Cranberry Ecstasy Bars recipe was developed by the The Oregonian FOODday newspaper, December 5, 2006.
2 Responses to “Cranberry Ecstasy Bars Recipe”
Sandy Alessi
Where is the recipe for the Cream Cheese Frosting & The White Chocolate Drizzle? I don’t see it–did I just miss it? I will try to do another search, the first one didn’t turn up anything. This recipe looks just like the one sold at Starbucks and I bet it tastes as good as that one also. I can’t wait to make it! Thank you.
Linda Stradley
You are right! I added the missing information. Thank you for letting me know. Yes, these are similar to the ones sold at Starbucks. – Linda Stradley