This delicious copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bread recipe tastes just like the famous Cranberry Bliss Bars, only better! It’s light and fluffy, with sweet cranberries and creamy white chocolate baked right in. It’s just the right amount of sweet, with a touch of tartness that only cranberries can bring to the table. Topped with homemade vanilla icing, it’s absolutely fabulous!
“Better than Starbucks” Cranberry Bliss Bread {Seriously!!}
Starbucks is famous for their fall and holiday treats — from pumpkin loaf, to maple pecan muffins, to flavored cake pops, and of course those mouth-wateringly decadent Cranberry Bliss Bars!
We Starbucks’ pumpkin loaf so much that my husband created a Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread that tastes just like the “real” thing!
With Christmas treats hitting shelves, I’ve been craving Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars too! But we always like to put our own spin on things, so our Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bar recipe is actually a loaf cake instead of individual bars. And it is equally fabulous, if not more delicious than the original!
What Are Cranberry Bliss Bars?
Available at Starbucks during November and December, Cranberry Bliss Bars are one of the Coffeys chain’s most famous bakery treats.
Starbucks’ website describes them as: “a blondie cake with dried cranberries, finished with a layer of cream-cheese icing flecked with orange zest and a sprinkle of dried cranberries”
And for extra effect, “a holiday extravaganza of undeniable yum.” Though I think that goes without saying?
What Makes the Bread Even Better?
If you’ve ever tried Cranberry Bliss Bars, then you know that they are SUPER rich and decadent. I love them, but I can hardly eat more than just a bite or two because they are so dense!
I’m a fan of the bread version because it is a bit lighter in texture, but just as flavorful. I can actually eat a slice without feeling stuffed afterwards!
Plus, it’s beautiful!
This Cranberry Bliss Bread is stunning on a Christmas party table! Trust me, everyone will love it!
Just look at that fluffy sweet bread with cranberries and white chocolate chips baked right in…and on top! So much sweet and tart and creamy white chocolate deliciousness!
This decadent and festive Cranberry Bliss Bread is one of the best holiday desserts we’ve ever made! I hope you love it too!
What You Need to Make Cranberry & White Chocolate Bread
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- Flour — We used a combination of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour for this recipe.
- Baking soda AND baking powder
- Kosher salt
- Butter — We used unsalted because we are already adding a bit of salt to the recipe.
- Sugar — White granulated
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Buttermilk
- Dried cranberries
- White chocolate chips
Vanilla Icing Ingredients
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Milk — You can use any type of milk
Toppings
- Dried cranberries
- White chocolate chips
Kitchen Tools Used
How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bread
First, you’ll want to preheat your oven to 350°F. Prep a 9″ loaf pan with non-stick baking spray or parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together dry ingredients.
In a separate large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes, until fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time to butter/sugar mixture, mixing as you go.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to your batter, mixing as you go. You’ll want the last thing you add to be dry ingredients.
Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips.
Now pour into your prepared loaf pan and bake for one hour.
Allow to cool completely, then transfer from pan to a wire cooling rack and place a cookie sheet under the rack. This will catch the icing when you frost the cranberry bliss bread.
To Make the Icing:
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together icing ingredients until smooth.
We also love this “Magic” 2-Ingredient White Chocolate Coconut Oil Frosting – it’s perfect to drizzle on cranberry bliss bars or bread!
Finally, while the icing is still wet, add your remaining white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to the top of the loaf. Slice and enjoy your copycat cranberry bliss bar recipe!
What can you substitute for the buttermilk?
If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, don’t worry! A simple substitution will allow you to bake on!
- Mix 1/2 cup regular milk and 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice.
- Stir together, then allow to sit until it curdles slightly.
- Add to the recipe as you would buttermilk.
You can use this quick buttermilk substitute in other baking recipes too! Just keep the ratio of 1 cup milk to 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and scale up or down as needed.
How to Store Quick Bread
The most important thing before storing your homemade bread is to make sure that it is completely cooled. Covering bread that is still warm will trap steam and make it soggy.
Once bread is cool, keep covered at room temperature. Do not refrigerate, as it will make the bread dry out faster.
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Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bread Recipe:
If you love this recipe, rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.
Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bread
Equipment
- Electric mixer
- Loaf Pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
Bread Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries + 1/2 cup chopped for decorating
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips + 1/2 cup for melt
Vanilla icing ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2-4 Tablespoons milk
Toppings:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (melted)
Instructions
To Make the Cranberry Bliss Bread:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9" loaf pan with nonstick baking spray or butter.
- Sift together dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
- Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing as you go, until incorporated.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to your mixer with wet ingredients, with dry ingredients being the last thing you add.
- Stir dried cranberries and white chocolate chips into your batter until evenly distributed.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for an hour.
- Once baked, allow to cool completely before removing from pan. After removing from pan, transfer cranberry bliss loaf to a wire rack, placing a cookie sheet underneath it.
To Make the Vanilla Icing:
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until well combined.
- Pour vanilla icing over the cranberry bliss bread and allow to dry for at least 30 minutes.
- Top with 1/2 cup chopped cranberries and white chocolate drizzle.
- Allow all toppings to set before slicing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Trisha says
Really good flavor and tasty