Email to Stella      

Recipe Categories: Stella's HOME PAGEAPPETIZERS BAKING_SITES BBQ BEAUTY BEEF BEVERAGES BIOGRAPHY BREAD BREAKFAST BROWNIESandBARS BUTTERS_SPREADS CAKES CANDY CANNING_PRESERVING CASSEROLES CELEBRITY CHEESECAKES CHOCOHOLICS_ANONYMOUS COMFORT_FOOD COOKIES COOKING_FOR_2 COPYCAT CRAFT_RECIPES CROCKPOT DESSERTS DIABETIC DIETS ENTERTAINING ETHNIC FISHandSEAFOOD FONDUE FREEZER_FRIENDLY FROSTINGandFILLING FRUIT FUDGE GIFT_BASKET GIFT_JARS GLUTEN_FREE GRILL HINTSandTIPS HOLIDAYS HOMEMADE_PRODUCTS ICE_CREAM JAMSandJELLIES KIDDIE_MENU LOWFAT LOW_CARB MARINADES_RUBS MINUTE_MEALS MUFFINS OAMC PASTA PASTRIES PET_FOOD pHBalance PICNICandCAMPING PIES PIZZA POLITICIAN_FAVORITES PORK POULTRY PRESSURECOOKER QUANTITY_COOKING SALADandDRESSING SANDWICHES SAUCES SEWING_CRAFTS SIDE_DISHES SNACKS SOUPS_STEWS_CHOWDER_CHILI SOUTH_BEACH_DIET STATE_RECIPES TOP_TEN VEGETABLES VEGETARIAN

Bars: Holiday Cranberry Bars




Source of Recipe


Carol A. (TheBakingPan.com)


Recipe Introduction


"The snowy white frosting with a sprinkling of cranberry and orange pieces then drizzled with white chocolate makes a holiday cookie showpiece. These cookies are festive looking, delicious, and rich."



List of Ingredients




1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1½ cups firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1¾ cups white chocolate chips

1½ cups dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup grated orange zest (about 2 oranges)

---Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about half of 1 orange)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract



---Topping:

1/3 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about half of 1 orange)

1 cup white chocolate chips





Recipe



Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 11 by 15 inch jelly roll pan.

Dough:
In a large bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla; whisk together until mixture is smooth. Add flour, baking powder, and salt; whisk together until mixed. Add white chocolate chips, cranberries, pecans and orange zest; stir until mixed.


Spread the dough evenly in the jelly roll pan (dough will be stiff). Bake 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Leave cookie in pan to cool; place baking pan on wire rack to cool.

Frosting:
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners sugar, butter, 1 tablespoon orange zest, and vanilla. Beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Spread on cooled cookie.

Topping:

In a small bowl, combine cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Sprinkle over frosting.


In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the white chocolate chips, stir constantly until melted so chocolate does not burn. Drizzle melted chocolate over cookie.


When chocolate is set, cut into 3 inch squares; cut each square in half diagonally.

Makes about 4 dozen bars

Note: These bars can be baked in a 9 inch by 13 inch baking pan; bake about 35 minutes.