Chocolate Cranberry “Blessed” Bars
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Makes 24 triangles | Oven: 350°
INGREDIENTS
For the Base
2 cups all purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ginger powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 sticks browned butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dry cranberries
For the Frosting
8 oz cream cheese
3 tablespoons butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Orange zest, vanilla and salt to taste
To Finish
handful of dried cranberries
melted white chocolate
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare the Base
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, ginger powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and continue cooking it until it turns golden brown and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, orange zest, and vanilla bean paste. Add the browned butter and mix until smooth.
Stir in the sifted dry ingredients, along with the cranberries and white chocolate chips, mixing until just combined. The batter should be thick, so dump it into the prepared pan and spread it evenly, using your hands or a spatula to ensure it is one even layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 16-20 minutes, or until the top is crackly and the middle is just barely set. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Prepare the Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue to beat until the frosting is creamy and fluffy. Stir in a pinch of salt, a little vanilla extract, and orange zest to taste.
Assemble the Bars: Once the bars have cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.
Finish the bars with a sprinkle of dried cranberries and a drizzle of melted white chocolate. Let the chocolate set for a few minutes before cutting into squares.
