HEAVENLY CRANBERRY BARS

HEAVENLY CRANBERRY BARS image

Yield 48 bars

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, melted, cooled
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cups white choc. chips
1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1 cup toasted, chopped pecans
1/4 cup grated orange zest
White Chocolate Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp.
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
6 oz. white chocolate, coarsely chopped

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 11x15 jelly roll pan or rimmed baking sheet. Whisk together the brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended, then stir in the white chocolate chips, cranberries, pecans,and orange zest. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan (it will be quite stiff) and bake until golden brown, about 20-22 minutes. Set aside on a wire rack to cool. For the frosting, cream together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla with a mixer at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread mixture over the cooled base. Sprinkle chopped cranberries over top. Melt the white chocolate and drizzle over the bars, let sit until chocolate is set. Cut bars into 3 inch squares and then diagonally into triangles.