The Starbucks version relies on a cream cheese base, which I think is impractical for adding to kids lunch boxes, since it requires refrigeration. The recipe below borrows from the familiar Magic Layer Cookies of old, and they are delicious. They look similar to the Starbucks version by using white chocolate chips both whole and melted. Easy. Tasty. Timeless.
Cranberry Blessed Bars
Preheat Oven 350 bake 20-25 minutes makes 24 or fewer if cut larger.Must: line pan with parchment paper in order to cut into bars!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers about 28
1 stick melted butter
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts (can eliminate if needed)
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
Topping:
For decorating when cooled out of oven
1/4 cup white chocolate chips melted in a baggie inside a bowl then clip a corner to stream out.
Substitutes:
Can add 1 cup of coconut. Can remove nuts.
Method:
Place parchment paper in a 9 X 13 pan. Spray with non-stick oil.
Melt butter in a pan and add the crushed graham crackers. Mix and move that mixture to the 9 X 13 pan. Sprinkle cranberries, walnuts, and white chips on top of graham crackers. Pour entire can of sweetened condensed milk over all.
Bake in preheated oven 20 - 25 minutes or less if it starts to brown. You don't want it to brown that is too much caramelization.
Remove from oven and cool. When cool removed from pan in one piece using the parchment paper. Then decorate the top using the melted white chips by streaming from the cut baggie. Alternatively, you can melt the chips in a bowl and drizzle by using a fork. You want a small stream affect as seen in this photo.
Cut 4 rows across and 6 down using a sharp serrated knife or 3 across and 6 down for larger serving. I used a bread knife. OR to mimick the Starbucks version cut the larger bars into triangles. The design part you can control!
Bon appetit!
