Protein Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe - Healthy, Low Calorie!

Best Protein Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe that's heathy, low calorie and has no sugar! The ultimate Starbucks copycat with a cranberry orange blondie and orange zest cream cheese frosting - both with protein powder!

I made my original high protein cranberry orange bars about 3 years ago, and decided I wanted to completely revamp it to turn it into a proper healthy Starbucks cranberry bliss bars copycat. Used a different blondie recipe I created since then and this one is magic!

With the cranberry, white chocolate and orange zest flavored blondie, the cream cheese orange zest frosting and the white chocolate drizzle all high protein, low carb and low fat - this is your perfect alternative that's just as indulgent as the Starbucks version!

With only 99 calories and 8 grams of protein, you can bake a batch even for a post workout snack!

Ingredients for High Protein Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe

These protein cranberry orange bars are packed with protein and fiber, making them a great macro friendly cranberry bliss bars option.

• Vanilla Protein Powder (Whey-Casein): Essential for adding protein and replacing powdered sugar. I use the one from Quest Nutrition.
  • Sub: You can replace this with plant based protein like KOS. If using whey isolate or casein protein powder, skip the milk.
• Flour: Use All-purpose flour, 1:1 gluten free baking flour, or Whole Wheat Pastry Flour.
• Almond/PB Powder like the PB powder from PB2 or PbFit. Or Almond Butter from PB2.
  • Sub: ¼ cup Flour + 1 tablespoon Almond or Peanut Butter
• Unflavored Protein Powder: Provides the core structure and texture. I use KOS here.
  • Sub: Use ¼ cup flour, but also reduce Milk to 3 Tbsp.
• Orange Zest for the flavor!
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Leaveners needed for rise.
• Non-fat Greek Yogurt to add moisture as well as protein
  • Sub: Any Greek Yogurt or thick yogurt like Coconut Yogurt
• Unsweetened Applesauce to add moisture without butter in classic recipes
  • Sub: Mashed banana, but this will alter the flavor.
• Almond Milk (skip this if using whey isolate or casein)
  • Sub: Any other non-dairy milk or regular milk
• Almond Butter
  • Sub: Cashew Butter, Peanut Butter, Tahini or other nut/seed butter
• Zero Calorie Monkfruit Brown Sugar: Enhances the richness of the blondie base and keeps these as sugar free cranberry bliss bars. Use this one from Lakanto.
  • Sub: Regular brown sugar or coconut sugar (this won't be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)

Mix-Ins and Topping

• Sugar-free White Chocolate Chips from Lily's!
• Dried Cranberries
• Coconut Oil

Frosting

• Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: The base for the rich and creamy frosting
• Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt: To add extra protein and lower the calories and fat
• Vanilla Protein Powder I use the same one from Quest here
• Orange Zest

How to Make Healthy Cranberry Bliss Bars

These protein powder cranberry bliss bars are easy to make and perfect for a healthy, low calorie cranberry bliss bars fix!

Step 1: Prep and Mix Batter

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8" x 8" baking dish with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (protein powders, flour, almond/PB powder, zest, cinnamon, baking powder and soda).
• In a separate large bowl, whisk the wet ingredients (Greek yogurt, applesauce, almond milk, almond butter, and brown sugar).

• Add the wet mix to the dry, and gently fold until almost combined (some streaks of flour are okay). Do not overmix.
  Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I'd recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have low sugar and low carb cranberry bars recipe.
• Fold in 3 tablespoon each of white chocolate chips and dried cranberries.

Step 2: Bake

• Transfer batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
• Bake for 25-28 minutes or until the top is set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly dry, with only a few crumbs.
• Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 3: Frosting and Drizzle

• Combine softened cream cheese and yogurt in a bowl. Add protein powder and orange zest, and mix to combine. (Add a touch of milk if too thick).
  I recommend an electric mixer.
• Spread the frosting evenly on the cooled bars.
• Sprinkle on the remaining dried cranberries.
• Melt the remaining white chocolate chips (with coconut oil, if using) in a microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle over the bars and let set.
• Cut into 16 triangles for serving.

More Healthy Cranberry Dessert Recipes to try:

• Cranberry Eggnog Protein Muffins
• Lemon Cranberry Protein Scones
• Cinnamon Cranberry Protein Cake - Quick, Fresh and Healthy!
• Cranberry Orange Protein Donuts

Protein Cranberry Bliss Bars Recipe - Healthy, Low Calorie!

Print recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Servings: 16 2" bars

Calories: 99kcal

Course: Dessert, Post-Workout, Snack

Cuisine: American

Best Protein Cranberry Bliss Bars recipe that's heathy, low calorie and has no sugar! The ultimate Starbucks copycat with a cranberry orange blondie and orange zest cream cheese frosting - both with protein powder!

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

• ½ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 45g
• ⅓ cup Flour, 40g, see blog post above for options
• ⅓ cup Almond Butter Powder, or PB Powder, 32g
• ¼ cup Unflavored Protein Powder, Plant-based or Whey-casein, 22g
• ½ tablespoon Orange Zest
• ¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda

Wet Ingredients:

• ¾ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 170g
• ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce, 120g
• ⅓ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 80ml
• 2 tablespoon Almond Butter, 32g
• 2 tablespoon Zero Calorie Monkfruit Brown Sugar, 24g

Mix-Ins + Topping:

• ¼ cup Sugar-free White Chocolate Chips, 56g
• ¼ cup Dried Cranberries, 56g

Frosting:

• 3 oz Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, 84g
• 3 oz Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt, 85g
• ⅓ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, 30g, Whey-casein recommended
• ¼ teaspoon Orange Zest

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8" x 8" baking dish with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk dry ingredients: vanilla protein powder, flour, almond/peanut butter powder, unflavored protein powder, orange zest, baking powder and baking soda.
• In a large bowl, whisk wet ingredients: Greek yogurt, applesauce, almond milk, almond butter and brown sugar.
• Add wet mix to dry, and gently fold until almost combined (there will be some streaks of flour).

  Don't overmix or the blondies will turn out too dense.
• Add in 3 tablespoon each of white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and fold until just combined.
• Transfer batter into pan and spread evenly.
• Bake for 25-28 minutes or until the top is set.

  Toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly dry, with only a few crumbs.

  Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Frosting:

• Combine softened cream cheese and yogurt in a bowl.
• Add protein powder and mix to combine.

  If too thick, add a little a teaspoon at a time of milk.

  Taste and add sweetener or vanilla extract as needed.
• Spread frosting on blondies.

Drizzle:

• Sprinkle on remaining dried cranberries.
• Place remaining white chocolate chips and coconut oil in a large microwave safe bowl and microwave about 45 seconds, stirring halfway, until completely melted.

  Drizzle on bars and let set.
• Cut into 16 triangles. Cut into 4 squares and then crosswise each square to form a 4 triangles each.

Video

Notes

• Nutrition details are calculated using products recommended below.
• See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.

Product Recommendations:

• Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
• Pb2 Original Powdered Peanut Butter
• Lakanto 1:1 Brown Sugar Substitute
• Lily's White Chocolate Baking Chips
•  

Nutrition:

• Servings: 16 pieces | Serving size: 1
• Calories: 99 cal
• Fat: 4.2g | Saturated fat: 1.7g
• Carbohydrates: 10.6g | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 3g
• Protein: 7.9g

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