Wannabe Recipea: White Chocolate Cranberry-Kissed Cake
I’m trying really hard not to be cliché.
Then again, maybe I’m just lazy. My hair for the day would confirm that. I’m going through an awkward stage which I’m attempting to mitigate with the tiniest ponytail you’ve ever seen and a headband. I look like I either just got my wig snatched on Jerry Springer or like I’m about to film a Proactiv commercial and am poised to go in for the big sink splash. The UPS guy came to do the door, went “GAHHH!,” grabbed the door handle and pulled the door shut.
All of this is to say I have no end of the year recipe wrap-up planned.
I’m lazy and in general, I like to look forward instead of backward. Forward to when I’m going to have a healthy head of long, wavy hair. I’ll show you, UPS guy.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want this year to go out with a bang. Or a bang-up recipe.
I’m trying really hard not to be cliché.
This recipe is not exactly like Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars. And I’m not going to say, “That’s because it’s better.” So cliché.
But it’s also not exactly like the Cranberry Bliss Bars because it wasn’t made a few weeks ago and frozen. It’s not crusty around the edges. In fact, I don’t even think you can call it a bar.
Let’s not talk anymore about what it’s not. Let’s look forward and talk about what it is.
White Chocolate Cranberry-Kissed Cake
Makes 8-10 slices
- 3/4 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 c. organic unbleached flour
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1/2 t. baking soda
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1 t. ginger
- 1/2 c. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance) or coconut oil
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/4 c. organic sugar
- 1/2 c. applesauce
- 1/2 c. non-dairy or organic milk
- 1 t. vanilla
- 2 t. orange zest
- 1/2 c. dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 c. white chocolate chips*
Frosting:
- 1/2 c. non-dairy or organic cream cheese
- 2 T. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance) or coconut oil
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 t. orange extract
- 1 ½ c. powdered sugar
- 1/4 c. white chocolate chips, melted*
- 1-2 t. coconut oil
- 1/4 c. dried cranberries, chopped
*If you’d like to make these bars 100% vegan, you have to find the somewhat hard to come by non-dairy white chocolate chips. You can buy some here. Otherwise, you can substitute dairy-free chocolate chips for a slightly different version.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ginger.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer and a medium bowl, cream together margarine or coconut oil, sugars, applesauce and non-dairy milk. vanilla and orange zest.
Add flour mixture to wet ingredients, a little at a time, beating until incorporated.
Fold in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
Spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray or lightly grease it with oil. Spread batter evenly in the baking pan.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Allow to cool completely.
For the frosting, beat together cream cheese, margarine or oil, salt, orange extract and powdered sugar.
Frost bars evenly.
Sprinkle with remaining dried cranberries.
And drizzle with melted white chocolate. Note: you can stir in 1-2 t. of coconut oil to make the chocolate more “pourable.”
We’re not going for perfection here.
Perfection is so cliché.
If you want the cake to be a bit denser and the frosting to firm up, refrigerate for an hour or two before slicing and serving.
That’s a little too far in the future for my liking, though.
Because this is presently such a delicious cake.
Melt-in-your-mouth, chewy, crunchy bliss. In a cranberry-kissed cake.
In other words, “Bang.”
Happy New Year, friends.
See you in 2012 with more Peas and God-willing, more hair.
I have wavy hair too. A beast to tame. I used to straighten it before we had kids. Now, not a chance.
(like literally, there isn’t a chance for me to get out the straightener, plug it in, pull it through my hair for the required 15 minutes, and go.)
1. I’m starving and this isn’t helping.
2. Thanks for the link to the vegan white chocolate.
3. This is the first recipe I’ve ever pinned!
Wow, I feel privileged!
These look ridiculous. In a good way. Maybe you should save a piece for that UPS guy.
What do you mean by “piece?” I’m telling Pea Daddy.
Heh heh…I had a feeling you might say that.
I love this reply!
YES. Cranberry kissed ANYTHING is amazing. Thank you!!!
We all need a kiss for NYE right?
I am so glad when you tweeted a photo of this I had no idea what it was at Starbucks, because given your description of what it’s like at their store, I’m happy that I’ll never experience it! This, on the other hand, looks and sounds so so good!
Love the Jerry Springer reference by the way. But you’re not alone in hair-fauxpas. I cook with my hair up in a sumo-wrestler bun. Every time.
I long for the day I can do a sumo bun.
I love those from Starbucks! YUM. But why, why, why can’t someone make a decent vegan white chocolate chip without hydrogenated oils and vanillan. Ugh. Maybe it’s my mission in life.
I feel you on the white chocolate chips
I too love the Starbucks bars.
If you don’t mind spending a little extra, raw organics makes a golden white chocolate bar. It’s browner than most white chocolates, but the taste is so good. I’m hooked!
Wow! Those look amazing! At least you probably got up and got dressed. I’m feeling under the weather so I haven’t been out of my PJs all day. My hair is worse than a bird’s nest, and I’m sure would send people running. Lucky for them no one has come to my door today…………:) Happy New Year!
I took a shower at 1 pm. That meant sweaty workout clothes for 6 hours. Lucky UPS guy.
i’m drooling just looking at the pictures!
I have pretty curly hair and someone stopped by earlier this afternoon and was polite enough not to say anything to my face about my hair. Instead, when I caught myself in the mirror and said, “oh wow, look at my hair!” and began to fix it they uncontrollably laughed and said they were relieved I finally noticed.
THIS is going on the top of my Once I’m Office Crutches And Can Cook & Bake List !!
Happy New Year Mama & Peas!
People don’t need to tell me. I know. They say things like, “I like your shirt,” but I think they are only saying that because it distracts from the hair
Aah I was hoping I would see this recipe after I saw the picture on facebook!
I made your falafels today. The tzatziki sauce is fabulous!
I almost made those falafels for dinner! But we had pancakes instead. Without tzatziki.
Yum! That just looks and sounds absolutely delicious!
Oooh beautiful chocolatey goodness. I love the combination of white chocolate and cranberries
These remind me of Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars…which there is a recipe floating around and I want to make those..and now, want to make this. Cranberry, cake/bars, white chocolate..yeah, I’m all about it.
Love the white choc drizzle.
And those white choc chips are seasonal at my TJs. You better believe I stocked up. I go thru a bag a week most weeks. I’m set til about March though
Mama Pea, oh how similar we can be! I, too, prefer to look forward instead of look back. Let’s keep this train runnin! (On the other hand, looking back is fun and CAN teach you (general you) something.)
I love cake, dried cranberries and white chocolate. I think I have most ingredients on-hand, too! YAY. Actually, a funny tale. A few weeks ago, I finally bought whole wheat pastry flour. For some reason, it took me a while to buck up and buy it. Anyway, I was so excited to have this in my possession so I could make wholer, wheatier treats. I rested it in the cupboard, on the floor, where we often keep flours. The next day, I receive a text from MamaJ that said she owed me a bag of flour. What the what? Turns out, our 16-year-old dog peed on the floor, which then seeped into the prized bag of whole wheat pastry flour.
There’s a brand-new bag on the highest shelf in the cupboard right now. This recipe would be the perfect way to use it! Love ya!
Oh man…one more reason to not get a puppy. I miss you! And meeting you was definitely one of my highlights of 2011!!!
Well, I hope they’re not like those Starbucks bars because if you ask me they are the funk. These look better
You could try pigtails!
xo Erin
Is “the funk” good or bad? I’m so rocking pigtails tomorrow. At 33 years old. Awesome. <3 you!!!
Happy New Year Mama! And Happy New Year to your lovely ones. This cake looks so very yum. They SHOULD sell your food at S-Bucks, would be so much better. <3
Looks wonderful! Are the white chips similar to non vegan? I have not found many replacement products ( ie. carob, a brand of vegan cheese that I shall not name…) that I have loved.
I’m having the same hair issue. Re-cut or let grow? In the meantime, tiny ponytail that I re- do 20 times a day.:)
I must admit, I’m not totally crazy about the vegan white chocolate chips. Someone needs to do a version that tastes good!!!
I’m definitely GROWING.
i adore the cranberry bliss bars at starbucks, but fresh-baked is ALWAYS better. cliche, but oh-so-true.
oh, and i’m pulling for your long wavy hair. Lord knows i need a prayer for mine
Your hair is GORGEOUS! Has it changed a lot during pregnancy? Mine got crazy thick and long. Hmmm…maybe I should get pregnant…
aw, thanks! you know it’s not that different from normal although it does feel a little thicker. i was hoping it would be a lot longer by now though!
and obviously getting pregnant is always the answer
I looked at these today in Starbucks before seeing your pic of them and honestly, you totally kicked their butt! I do have a thing for white chocolate, too, so this recipea might come in handy next time I have the urge to go to Starbucks…for just the coffee of course. Their treats can kiss my bum!
Dare me to pack these into Starbucks? I will.
i’ll trade you some of my hair length for some of your wave. my hair is straight as a pin and so boring.
but i guess the grass is always greener…not to be cliche or anything.
Have you tried sock bun waves? I haven’t (obviously) but I hear they are fantastic!
hmmm, no i haven’t tried the waves, but i am rocking a sock bun right now in fact!
This is a much needed recipe, because the icing on the ones at Starbucks tastes like wax. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I made the same comment on here about your cake pop recipe. You should write an entire book of recreating Starbucks recipes…..something the world definitely needs. Book 3?
This is better than a recipe recap. Too many of those, yawn. I have been doing some white chocolate lately, in the form of the raw golden white chocolate bar available at Whole Foods. It’s golden (not bleach white), but soo soo tasty. And healthier than the vegan white chips.
I am totally picturing your hair. My husband went through a phase like that before he cut it short again. It was awkward growing it out.
Ooooh this looks amazing! Might whip this up for special new years dessert:) wishing you and your family a Happy New Year! Thanks for the laughs and the wonderful recipes- roll up 2012!!!
It would be the perfect NYE treat. Happy New Year, Marion!
Just when I thought I was over sweets….this post just sent me back to sinful cravings
White chocolate and cranberries are an irresistible match!
I know, right? Salad in a jar, followed by cake
These look good! I might make some for my sister in law and brother in law who are coming to town. Hang in there with the hair. It takes time for it to get back after a straightening kick.
I know. It’s been exactly two weeks, which I hear is the worst part. I used a no-sulfate shampoo tonight and hope things are better tomorrow
I use a sulphate free poo 1-2 x a week. But I have 3a-3c texture. You might need more often if yours are in the 2′s.
I’d say I’m 2C and 3A on a really good day (and with a bit more length). I think I might be overconditioning with the co-wash, regular conditioner and leave-in.
I remember when I got my hair cut entirely too short and had to make due with a tiny ponytail and about a million hair clips. People didn’t run away from me in fear, but I’m sure you look fine. Hope you have an even better 2012 than the good that was 2011.
Thank you, Amber. Wishing you a wonderful new year as well!
You may have scared the UPS guy, but I had a full conversation while fully made up with poppy seeds stuck in my teeth. Seeds. As in plural. They were polite enough to not say anything, but I thought they were oddly fixated on my mouth. As I do not possess Angelina Jolie’s lips, I thought it was odd, but I convinced they were admiring the straight teeth that came from years of orthodontia. Definitely not the case.
Oh no, been there. But you do have very nice teeth
They’re even better without poppy seeds.
The white chocolate drizzle looks amazing ans the cake looks delicious..
Happy New Year to you too
THANK YOU!!
I can’t wait to try these…as soon as I get back home to MY kitchen, where I have things like WW pastry flour, almond milk, and Earth Balance.
Happy New Year to the Peas!!
This recipe may just save my new year’s celebration….Just got out of the kitchen where my attempt to bake a chocolate cake didn’t exactly go as planned. It’s more of a tiny chocolate pancake….epic baking fail lol. Will try and resolve the situation tomorrow with your recipe. Do you think you could use dark or milk chocolate instead?? My family doesn’t like the taste of white chocolate for some reason!
I think dark chocolate would make an awesome sub! Good luck!
I love your hair! (Mine is sweaty and up in a haedband every single day. Can’t remember the last tie I actually put product in it.)
I love all your recipes (especially THIS one). I’m too cheap to ever buy one of these at Starbucks and now I don’t have to. Thank you.
Your photos, writing, humor, recipes and faith never cease to amaze me.
Thank you for being SUCH an inspiration. I’m sooo happy to have met you this year. I hope to become even better friends in 2012.
Sorry- random comments. I’m lazy right now too!
No, they are wonderful comments. <3 you! Maybe we will meet again in Boulder in May!
I dont think it matter what it ‘is’ or ‘isnt’. Its pretty. And thats all that matters :-p
Yum!!! so glad you shared:)
I understand about the hair woes! (Going through the same stage myself..) It’s gonna be over soon right?
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Just stay strong and stay away from the scissors!
I am 48, decided on bangs this haircut around. Curls and straight
bangs, because I am to lazy to starighten my hair…heck sometimes it is curly hair and curly bangs! Yikes!The recipe looks yummy and you are so funny with your posts! Thanks for making me laugh out loud! Happy New Year!
My pleasure, Jeanette. Yeah, I’m still not too sure to do with these bangs either. If you figure it out, let me know.
That looks insanely delicious! I’ve never had one of the Starbucks ones…it seemed like something that could end up being too tempting if I knew what it tasted like.
Happy New Year – hope you and your family have a wonderful new year full of happiness and success.
You too, Christine. Thank you!
I have short hair and it’s so hard to remember/find the time/money to get a cut every 4-6 weeks, so usually when the back grows out to where it looks a little mullet-y, I put the two tiniest little pigtails back there. It’s not TERRIBLY age appropriate, but it squeezes a week or two more out of my cut
Thanks for the tip! I’ll try it!
I thought it was funny you came out with a recipe for this today because on Tuesday I was just drooling over the bars at Sbux and wishing I could make my own. And now I CAN!! Thanks
And Happy New Year!
Happy NY to you too! I hope you try this!
I’ll admit, I haven’t actually tried the Starbucks version before, but now I have no desire to because I just want these!!!!
Happy New Year Mama Pea!!! Wish you and your family a wonderful 2012, full of love and happy healthy kids!!
Ana
Amen! Same to you!
Happy New Year, Peas! Love always from about an hour up the freeway. Yep, that’s it, just an hour. One little tiny teeny hour. And Sweet Tomatoes. Just a hint to get us together in 2012.
We may be up your way this weekend…you guys busy?
That looks delicious. I’m not usually a white chocolate fan but I love the cranberry white chocolate combo. Happy New Year to you and your family!
oh hello, delicious cake!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Happy New Year Sarah! Looking forward to 2012 with great anticipation!
Nothing says BANG like white chocolate, dumb jokes, and bars that are WAY better than Starbucks
I can relate with naturally curly hair, I used to flat iron it all the time and am doing a natural look lately.
This cake looks amazing, I must make it for my Starbucks loving sister!
Good for you! 3 weeks and counting for me!
I’m happy to see the wavy hair look -you’ve got pretty hair! And it looks less uptight than the straight style. Just sayin’
Thank you! (I think)
I cannot imagine the UPS man being frightened of you. Just don’t start donning a “grandma” house coat.
Why oh why did you post this???? I swore I wasn’t going to bake anything until February after making way to many deserts for Christmas. I think I’ll change that to no baking after January 1st. Thank you!
Why not! That’s what New Years is for
Mmmm…. Looks SO good! I’ve always wanted to try your recipes, but have never gone out to get whole wheat pastry flour and the like. Could I make it with plain (all-purpose) white or whole wheat?
You can get a similar texture from 1/2 regular whole wheat and 1/2 all purpose mixed…it just won’t be 100% whole wheat. Hope you give it a go, though!
Am I the only one who has hardly tried any of the food available at Sbux? Guess I need to get on that. I’m so not cool.
Anyway, my inexperience with the original makes the recipe all the more perfect for me to try–I won’t be comparing it to anything, just enjoying it for its own deliciousness.
PS Your posts always make me want to go to Trader Joe’s
I love that you incorporated whole wheat into this dessert…..I try to do that as well whenever possible.
Question: do you cream the coconut oil with the sugar with or without melting it first? It seems like when it is hard it wouldn’t work but I haven’t used it that much… just wondering.
Happy New Year to the Pea Family!
I used Earth Balance, but if you are using coconut oil, you definitely want to melt it first. Happy New Year to you too!!!
You can be as lazy as you like if you post recipes like these
Looking forward works for me too – Happy New Year!
*sigh*. You gotta stop (not really)! The jeans are getting tight from all your goodies I just “had” to make! I decided to make all the goodies for the fam’s stockings this year… The Santa no-bake snowballs, the Eggnog Spiced nuts (huge hit at the office too!), homemade peanut butter cups (substituted a ball of pb instead of cookie dough) and the cake pops! Cool thing about the pops…I forgot to get something to stand them up on so the chocolate could harden and my handy son-in-law ran to his truck and made me stands that fit in the fridge! Talk about handy!! Of course I rewarded him with a pop while everyone else had to wait for their stockings Christmas morning! Ha! Oh and my grandmonster wants them for his fourth birthday next month. Maybe I could talk him into the cranberry cake??? Naaah…that’ll be just for the grown-ups!
. Happy New Year!
You have an awesome son-in-law! I want cake pop stands!
Happy New Year to you too, Robin!!! 
WOW! Looks so good!!!
These cake bars look amazing! Everytime I go into Starbucks I’m always tempted by their version, so glad I can now make my own!
Another yummy looking recipe to add to my list! Unfortunately we just found out my son is allergic to apples.
messes with my sub the eggs with applesauce’ thing. I’m ok with eggs, cage-free/organic, etc, in baked recipes do you think I could do one egg for 1/4 c applesauce? *sigh*
Yes, indeed.
Subbed in dark chocolate and ohmygosh was this ever so good!
I’m thrilled you tried it and liked it! We cleared out our pan in record time.
OMG! That looks so yummy!! You truly inspire me with you creativity and ability to make anything vegan! I hope some day to have your skills!! Hope you and your family have a great new year!
Thank you so much! Happy New Year!
Beg Worthy Banana Bread in the oven right now. totally wish it was this cake, but i don’t have cranberries, or white chocolate or a lot of other things (a brain??). i have a feeling i won’t be disappointed though. my house smells like heaven and i ate almost half of the batter before i forced myself to get it into the loaf pan. happy new year Peas. much love! xo
Happy New Year to you too! You are going to have quite the year!!!
Um…YUM. Made these today. I used to look forward to every Starbucks red cup season for these and now I can have them, but even better! Thank you! By the way, I guess melting the vegan white chocolate in the microwave wasn’t such a good idea but I added soy and then it was pourable, but not so white anymore.
You can add a touch of coconut oil to the white chocolate to make it thinner. So glad you enjoyed the cake!
Bang is right! This looks superb, and it’s so festive without being overly cutesy. Accessible, too — as are all of your tasty recipes.
I just wanted to drop in and say thanks for motivating me to start my own blog…I’m a mother of four and its hard to balance family and life you do it so well.
Thank you! It’s a constant challenge, but I do the best I can!
I got up early and made this bars to take for a workplace snack today. I un-veganized them, sorry–we’re not quite there yet. But they turned out wonderfully and everyone loved them. Thanks for the recipes that include whole wheat flour in desserts. It really helps those of us who are sugar-addicted keep working toward whole grains and unprocessed foods!
MMMMM,…This festive cake was superb! I savoured it with my husband & family! They all loved it & wouldn’t guess it was vegan!
I am not a vegan but make a lot vegetarian & a few vegan dishes on my blog!
You have a very cool foodblog!
Many greetings from a foodie fan from Belgium!
Thanks so much, Sophie! Cheers!
I can’t remember the last time reading a blog post actually made me laugh out loud. Your tiny ponytail description is so great! Thanks.
I’m rocking it right now. (hangs head in shame)
I made this today – it was good and reminded me of a rich Christmas cake!! I’ve never tried the Starbucks version, but chose it for Valentines Day because my husband loves white chocolate. And he LOVED it! Thanks for the recipe Mama Pea! By the way, is it better to refrigerate this? I stored the remaining pieces in a tupperware in the fridge.
Yes, I would definitely keep it refrigerated. Glad you enjoyed!