Healthy White Chocolate Cranberry Bars

I will always and forever be a chocolate fiend (as you can probably tell from all of the chocolate-heavy recipes on my site), but I rarely turn down a dessert of any type. Unlike me, my sister isn’t the biggest chocolate lover and tends to go for the opposite. So when I recently asked her what type of healthy dessert recipe she’d like to see on the blog next, I wasn’t surprised to see that White Chocolate Cranberry Bars were her top request.

These were inspired by the classic Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars with a classic Goodness With G spin – aka all of the flavor and deliciousness of the real deal with ingredients you can feel good about. You’d simply never know that they’re gluten and dairy free!

The base of these bars is made with two of my favorite pantry staples – almond butter and almond flour. I personally love Georgia Grinders nut butters for the flavor and simple ingredients. You can also use my code GOODNESSWITHG for 20% off!

Likewise, a couple of my favorite secret ingredients that make all of the difference are almond extract and orange zest. These both add a little extra something you might not be able to put your finger on but can’t live without.

But the real stars of the show, of course, are the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. This combo is simply one of the best there is, and you can enjoy it on the healthier side with a few easy swaps.

I highly recommend using dried cranberries without any added sugar, which you can find at Whole Foods. Yes, they’re a bit more expensive but so worth it, as “regular” dried cranberries can be full of sugar, canola oil and preservatives you simply don’t need.

Likewise, my favorite brand of stevia-sweetened chocolate, Lily’s Sweets, recently came out with white chocolate chips, so those are a must as well!

But the real icing on the cake here, pun intended, is my simple Cream Cheese Frosting. You just mix together cream cheese (I used a dairy-free version from Kite Hill Foods) with a touch of maple syrup for sweetness, and that’s it.

Sprinkle with a few more toppings, and you’re good to go! I recommend storing these bars in the fridge or freezer to keep these bars from getting too messy. Plus, I love the texture even better when they’re cold.

Whether you’re team chocolate or not, these Healthy White Chocolate Cranberry Bars are a nutritious, tasty treat everyone will love. Whip these up for guest, your kiddos or simply yourself. You won’t regret it!