Orange Cranberry Bliss Bars

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Orange Cranberry Bliss Bars

a photo of several orange cranberry bliss bars stack on each other. they are drizzled with a white chocolate drizzle and topped with dried cranberries.
Orange and cranberry go together like pb and j or better yet, like pb and chocolate! These orange cranberry blondies are so soft and chewy. It’s like Christmas in your mouth!
You know how some things just belong together? I believe that oranges and cranberries are one of those combos that is just meant to be. Have you tried our orange cranberry glazed poppy seed bread?  Oh man, it’s so good! Then there is our orange cranberry pull apart bread that is just to die for!
There’s just something about the tartness of the cranberries with the tanginess of the orange all together with the sweetness of the blonde brownie and frosting that makes for one blissful bite!

Speaking of Things that Go Together…

Oranges and cranberries are foods that go together. Just like certain foods taste better together, I believe that some people are better together too. So much about being a mother is hard! Is anyone out there with me? It’s hard to sacrifice so much so constantly, but it’s worth it.

I was having a conversation with a friend about going to the park the other day. I secretly hate going to the park (I know, worst mom ever!). I don’t want to try the monkey bars. I don’t want to play pirates. I don’t want to climb up the slide.

And then there is the imaginative play! I can’t do it! I don’t know what it is, but it’s actually physically and mentally imp

Christmas Magic Cookie Bars

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Christmas Magic Cookie Bars

a photo of a magic cookie bar that has been topped with Christmas m&m's, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Christmas magic cookie bars have a buttery graham cracker crust that is topped with a layer of sweetened condensed milk, then oats followed by a combination of different baking chips and m&m’s. You’re going to LOVE them!

A few years ago a friend asked why I never have a magic bars recipe on the blog and I told her, because I have never found one our family loves and I’m not posting unless I think it’s totally delicious!

 

Fast forward a few years and many recipes and the kids are here to tell you that this Christmas magic bars recipe is literally the only magic bars recipe you need . I love the simplicity of chocolates and grahams but you could always throw in salted peanuts or other nuts, different chips like butterscotch, dark chocolate, peanut butter m&m’s, the possibilities are endless! 

What is it about recipes and 7 layers? Have you ever noticed that? Why aren’t there 8 layers? Or 6? We even have our own collection 7 layer recipes…haha! Our 7 layer pea salad is so dreamy! And of course there is always a 7 layer Mexican dip, which contributed to the 7 layer dip taquitos. But anyway, 7 layers! Most magic cookie bars out there are called 7 layer magic cookie bars.

I don’t know how many layers you would say that these bars have. If you go straight from the ingredients list, then these are 7 layers too. You have the graham cracker crust, then the sweetened condensed milk, the oats and all the baking chips and m&m’s. But I’m not going to call them 7 layer magic bars because I want you to be able to add or omit “layers” to make your own magic.

 

What Do I Need to Make Magic Cookie Bars?

Believe it or not, you are only 9 ingredients away from magic! Here is what you will need:

  • Graham Crackers – you can buy graham cracker crumbs or make your own in the food processor
  • Sugar – just regular white granulated sugar
  • Butter – helps bind the gc crumbs and sugar to make a crunchy crust, use unsalted, and melt it in the microwave for about 60 seconds
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk – we always go with Eagle Brand, this layer binds everything together
  • Quick Oats – I love the texture of the quick oats in this recipe but you could use old fashioned if you prefer
  • Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips – feel free to swap these for milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on what you like
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips – swap with butterscotch chips if you want
  • White Chocolate Chips – adds sweetness and creaminess
  • Holiday m&m’s – you can use any m&m’s you want for any holiday or just for a normal day

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. 

 

More Options for Toppings

Part of what makes these cookie bars magic is layering it up in just the way you want it. If the toppings

Gooey Biscoff Crumb Bars

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Gooey Biscoff Crumb Bars

a photo of a biscoff crumb bar sitting on a torn piece of parchment paper so you can see the cross-section of a thick cookie base topped with melted marshmallows and crumb topping drizzled with cookie butter

These Biscoff crumb bars are crazy rich but I can’t resist them! A thick and chewy cookie base topped with a layer of melty Biscoff spread, then roasted marshmallows and a crunchy crumb topping with a Biscoff drizzle…holy heaven!

We’ve been loving making campfire banana boats this summer and on a whim I made the most delicious Biscoff version. Immediately we all obsessed that it was the best banana boat ever but it didn’t stop there. By the next morning I’d barely slept as I kept dreaming of turning them into a dessert bar.

I debated sooooo much on every aspect of these bars but nothing as much as the base. Finally I decided on a snickerdoodle cookie base and I’m telling you, I am trying so hard to be humble but they are amazing. Even my family agrees, best dessert ever.

That slightly salty crumb topping is essential to balance this overly sweet bar and the marshmallow amount is totally up to you. I like a little less while my kids want more goo!

What is Biscoff?

Biscoff is a spread, similar in texture and consistency to peanut butter, made of ground up Biscoff cookies mixed with fat, flour and sugar.

What Flavor is Biscoff?

Biscoff spread and cookies have a warm caramel-y flavor with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Where to Buy Biscoff?

You can find Biscoff at most grocery stores. I’ve seen it at Kroger stores, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Harmon’s, etc. You’ll find it either by the peanut butter and other nut butters or on the cookie aisle.

When you find it, grab a jar for this recipe and then grab another one and make our Biscoff stuff snickerdoodle cookies. You’ll thank me later!

Ingredients for Biscoff Crumb Bars

Now that we have all those logistics out of the way and you know what you are looking for and where to look for it, here are the other ingredients you will need…

  • Butter: should be unsalted and softened so that is whips together with the sugars to be light and fluffy
  • Sugar: just regular white granulated sugar
  • Brown Sugar: adds richness and flavor
  • Vanilla: adds flavor
  • Eggs: one egg and an extra yolk will provide a perfect structure for the base of these dessert bars
  • Flour: just all-purpose flour
  • Salt: enhances all the flavors
  • Baking Powder: acts as a leavening agent and gives the bars their rise and fluffiness
  • Baking Soda: same purpose as the baking powder
  • Cream of Tartar: adds a little tang to the bars that is a snickerdoodle signature
  • Cornstarch: keeps the bars chewy but also fluffy
  • Biscoff: adds flavor, warmth, and the most delici

Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars

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Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars

a photo of a cheesecake bar with a thick crust, creamy cheesecake layer and a mixed berry topping.

These Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars are my favorite dessert! The easy oil pie crust pairs with the most delicately sweet cheesecake filling and is topped with a simple berry topping.

We’ve teamed up with my dream brand, Oregon Berries to bring you the BEST berry dessert that you will find online this year. I’M SERIOUS. I cannot stop eating it!!

I debated on whether to call these no-bake or not. You bake the crust, but the cheesecake layer is no-bake. And I’m telling you, this is a totally unique crust and it’s life-changing!

My friend Megan always tells me about this yummy chocolate pie business, but then she mentioned that there’s a berry version and I couldn’t help it, I needed the recipe immediately. Like, yesterday. And you all should be forever grateful that I got it because this is going to be one of the dreamiest berry desserts you’ll ever devour. In fact, I’m writing this post before I’ve even photographed the recipe because I’m just so excited!

Oregon Berries

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest I had berries written into my very soul! There is no berry quite like the Oregon Marionberry. Oregon was made for growing blackberries- HELLO, Optimal soil, air, water, climate and love!

It’s all about the local families who are total stewards of the land, supporting environmentally sustainable practices and always picking at the height of ripeness. And blackberries are actually good for you so you can feel good eating them in multiple ways.

If you’re the wanderlust or bucket list type of person I absolutely insist you make visiting the Oregon coast during the summer appear on your calendar. There is absolutely nothing like the breathtaking drives with music blasting, wonderful friends and conversation in the car and then pulling over to the roadside stands to buy freshly picked berries. It’s my favorite thing ever.

Ingredients for Berries and Cream Cheesecake Bars

I’m going to divide up the ingredients list into what you will need for each layer. Here is what you will need:

Pie Crust Layer

  • Flour: just regular all purpose flour is all you need
  • Sugar: adds sweetness to the crust
  • Salt: enhances all the flavors
  • Vegetable Oil: the fat needed to create a flaky strong base for the bars
  • Milk: helps bind everything together

Berry Layer

  • Berries: for this recipe we are using blackberries and raspberries, but you can use any combinations of berries you want (see section below for suggestions)
  • Sugar: adds sweetness and balances the tartness of the berries
  • Cornaby’s Ultra Gel: my favorite way of thickening the berry layer, cornstarch can be used as a substitute (see recipe card notes)
  • Water: thins everything out to create a beautiful glossy berry layer

Cream Layer

Halloween Peanut Butter Blondies

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Halloween Peanut Butter Blondies

Peanut butter blondies that are loaded with Reese’s pieces, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips and Oreos. Yes, you read that correctly! These are fully loaded!

I have refused to post Halloween desserts for years. I am not creative, and I don’t do cute. And I mostly am not at all artistic. Halloween kinda needs all of that. But lately I’ve been all about the mixups of ingredients and I couldn’t help but wonder, could a cute Halloween treat be made just by throwing a lot of goodies into blonde brownies?

a photo of a hand holding a peanut butter blondie so you can see the cross-section loaded with chocolate chips and Reese's pieces and topped with Halloween colored sprinkles.

Ahhh but there’s the issue, blonde brownies are kind of the worst lately. I think there are far too many recipes out there and the majority are dry. I hate that! Sink-your-teeth-into-them blonde brownies is how they should be. So, until I’m ready to post our favorite blonde brownies I thought I’d start with a peanut butter version. It took many attempts, but these are the best blonde brownies I’ve had and bonus that they not only are peanut butter blonde brownies but they are loaded with Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter chips (my personal favorite part), chocolate chips and Oreos!

On top look for Halloween sprinkles that will pop. I went for a version with purple and green in them so that it was extra colorful and fun. 

A photo of a peanut butter blondie topped with Halloween sprinkles and loaded with Oreo pieces, choclate chips, and Reese's pieces.Read more

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