*Recipe* Skinnier Cranberry Bliss Bars

Anyone that has had the Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, loves them.  And everyone that has seen the low cal recipe for them floating around on Facebook the last few days, wants to make them,  So, I made them, and they are really, really good AND at 150 calories, less than half that of the Starbucks version.  I think these could be made even lighter without much change in taste, and I will give that a try next time.

Ingredients

-2 cups all purpose flour
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
-2/3 cup granulated sugar
-2/3 cup brown sugar, unpacked
-1/4 cup melted, unsalted butter
-2 large egg whites
-1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
-2 tsp vanilla extract
-2/3 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate
-1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped

For the frosting:
-8oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
-1/2 cup powdered sugar
-2oz white baking chocolate, melted*
-1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

-Preheat oven to 350F and lightly spray a 9x13 inch non stick baking pan with cooking spray.
-In a large bowl, combine the flour , baking soda, salt and cinnamon and stir to blend.

-In another bowl, whisk the sugars with the butter, egg whites, apple sauce, and vanilla until light and fluffy.

-Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients slowly until the batter is very well blended.  If the batter seems more crumbly than smooth, add just a drop of water at a time until it smooths out.  
-Fold in white chocolate chips and cranberries.  Spread batter into the baking pan using a rubber scraper or back of a measuring cup to get it smooth. 

-Bake about 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean.  Do not over cook.  Let cool completely on a wire rack.
-Meanwhile, prepare the frosting.  In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until well blended.  

-Frost bars and sprinkle with remaining cranberries and drizzle with melted white chocolate.   

*to melt chocolate, put in a microwave safe cup and heat 15 seconds, stir, 15 seconds, stir, 15 seconds, stir, until melted.
-When chocolate sets, cut into 15 squares, then cut each square in half diagonally.  Store in fridge until ready to serve.



Thanks to Skinny Taste for the recipe!