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Cranberry Bliss Bars (Lightened Up)

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 102kcal
Author: Lauren
These Cranberry Bliss Bars are a lightened-up version of the popular Starbucks holiday treat. They're only 100 calories and still incredibly sweet, buttery, and stuffed with so much delicious flavor! I promise you won't be able to tell a difference!
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Ingredients

Blondies:

  • 1/4 cup light butter (56g)
  • 1/4 cup Swerve brown sugar (48g)
  • 1/4 cup Swerve granular sweetener (48g)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp orange extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (122g)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g)
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla protein powder (15g)
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries (40g)
  • 2 Tbsp white chocolate chips (28g)

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup whipped cream cheese frosting (96g)
  • 2 Tbsp dried cranberries (20g)
  • 1 Tbsp white chocolate chips (14g)
  • 1/4 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8" baking dish with parchment paper and/or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), add the butter, brown sugar, sweetener, vanilla, orange extract, egg, and applesauce. Mix on medium-high speed until combined; then add the flour and protein powder and mix on low just until the dry ingredients are combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. 
  • Pour batter into the prepared dish and even out so the top is smooth. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.  
  • Let the bars cool to room temperature then place in the fridge for an hour or until ready to frost. 
  • When ready, spread the frosting evenly over top and sprinkle with the remaining dried cranberries. 
  • Microwave the white chocolate chips and coconut oil  in 20-30 second increments until melted. Drizzle the white chocolate over top of the bars. 
  • Place in the freezer for 10 minutes for the chocolate to harden, then keep stored in the fridge, covered, until ready to eat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar (39g) | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.5g | Protein: 2.1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 8.1g