Blissful Holiday Cranberry Bars {gluten-free, grain-free}
Tart cranberries and sweet cream cheese, nestled atop a grain-free blondie and drizzled with white chocolate…
What could be more delicious or holiday-appropriate?
These Blissful Holiday Cranberry Bars are an answered prayer for gluten-free folks who covet those seasonal bars at a popular coffee chain. (You know what I’m talking about…)
You can serve these beautiful treats to both adults and children alike and know they are enjoying a healthy holiday goodie! Try them with a cup of coffee and this White Chocolate Coffee Creamer.
More Than Just Blissfully Delicious!
There’s a reason chocolate makes us happy. It’s the cacao butter!
Did you know that raw cacao butter contains nutrients that can help improve your mood?
Raw cacao butter is the fat extracted from cacao beans. It contains high levels of antioxidants and minerals, such as magnesium.
This essential mineral can help calm frayed nerves and is also essential for a healthy heart and muscle function, blood sugar regulation, and blood pressure control.
Raw cacao butter also encourages the release of neurotransmitters in our brains, such as the ones responsible for that blissful feeling we all enjoy (and crave, am I right busy mamas?)
And what could be better for frazzled holiday nerves??
Blissful Holiday Cranberry Bars For Your Holiday Parties
You’ve probably been to those holiday gatherings where there’s an abundance of overly processed junk foods. The kids get wound up, the adults get sleepy, and chaos ensues!
Serving healthy, nourishing foods to your guests can help alleviate some of that food-related chaos.
You won’t find any gluten, HFCS, or unnatural chemical preservatives or artificial coloring in these tasty bars. Just healthy ingredients such as Wildly Organic’s Almond Flour, Coconut Oil, Coconut Sugar, and Coconut Syrup.
These minimally processed ingredients retain vital nutrients as well as bring fabulous flavor to the table!
Plus, holiday desserts like this prove that healthy foods definitely do not taste like cardboard!
So, will you be including these grain-free Blissful Holiday Cranberry Bars at any holiday gatherings?
- 6 tablespoons Wildly Organic Butter Alternativesoftened (or butter, if you tolerate dairy)
- 2tablespoons Wildly Organic Refined Coconut Oilcan use all butter or all coconut oil, as desired
- 1cup Wildly Organic Coconut Sugar
- 2teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 2-1/2cups Wildly Organic Almond Flour
- 3tablespoons Wildly Organic Coconut Flour
- 3/4teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2teaspoon Wildly Organic Himalayan Pink Salt
- 1cup dried cranberriesdivided
- 8ounces cream cheese
- 4tablespoons Wildly Organic Coconut Syrup
- 1/2teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger
- 2teaspoons finely minced organic orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2-1/2ounces Wildly Organic Raw Cacao Butter
- 2tablespoons Wildly Organic Coconut Syrup
- 1/4cup Wildly Organic Coconut Milk Powder
- 1/4cup nut milk or milk of choice
- 1/2teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pinch Wildly Organic Himalayan Pink Salt
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Preheat oven to 350F.
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Line a 12" x 16" baking sheet with parchment paper, or grease well. Using a smaller pan will slightly increase baking time.
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In a medium mixing bowl, cream together butter, coconut oil, vanilla, and coconut sugar.
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Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
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In a small bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt and mix well.
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Add to creamed mixture and mix well.
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Stir in 1/2 cup dried cranberries.
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Let mixture sit for about 4 minutes, if it seems too wet, add a bit more almond flour.
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Evenly spread batter on prepared baking sheet.
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Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
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Remove and cool completely before frosting.
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While the cookie base is baking, you'll want to make the drizzle and refrigerate it. You'll use some in the cream cheese frosting.
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Using a double boiler, or a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of boiling water, melt the cacao butter.
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Carefully remove the top of the double boiler (or bowl) to a heat-safe surface.
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Whisk in the coconut milk powder, coconut syrup, salt, and vanilla.
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Slowly whisk in the nut milk.
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Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to thicken slightly.
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In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese, coconut syrup, vanilla, ginger, and orange zest.
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Mix in about 2/3 of the chocolate drizzle until well combined.
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Once the cookie base has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting over the top.
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Sprinkle the remaining dried cranberries evenly over the frosting.
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Using a whisk or fork (or a sandwich bag filled with white chocolate mixture with a small corner cut to make a piping bag), drizzle white chocolate over the bars diagonally.
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting to allow the drizzle to set well.
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Using a very sharp knife, cut into squares, then cut squares into triangles for a "copycat" look.
Check the blondie base at the early end of the time range. The batter will be dark because of the coconut sugar so you can't go by how brown it is. Test with a toothpick in the center.
These bars also freeze well!
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