Gluten-Free Holiday Bliss Cookie Bars

Using a basic cookie recipe, I revised it to be gluten-free and instead of the soft cake-like texture that Starbucks® Cranberry Bliss Bars have, these have a chewy, cookie-like texture. Also, I reduced the sugar so they're not quite so sweet.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 165 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 (16 ounce) container cream cheese frosting
• ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1 (8 ounce) package white chocolate chips
• 2 ½ cups gluten-free flour blend (such as Namaste Perfect Flour Blend™)
• ½ cup chopped dried cranberries, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13-inch pan.

Step 2

Beat butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth.

Step 3

Stir flour, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum together in a separate bowl. Stir 1/2 of the flour mixture into the egg mixture; mix well. Stir in remaining flour mixture, along with white chocolate chips and coconut. Mix well. Press into the prepared pan.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until the edges start to brown, about 23 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with cranberry bits. Cut into 48 triangles.