Chocolate Cranberry Holiday Bars recipe

Chocolate Cranberry Holiday Bars.

These festive bars have a yummy chocolatebrownie crust topped with luscious cranberry cream and a decorativedrizzle of semisweet chocolate glaze.

Recipe: Chocolate CranberryHoliday Bars

Bars:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup (packed) brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chipsCranberry Cream Filling:
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup finely-chopped dried cranberries (Craisins)Chocolate Drizzle:
2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons whipping cream or more to achieve desired consistency
Cinnamon ice cream or warmed honey, for accompaniment

For Bars: Melt the chocolate and buttertogether in a small saucepan or in the microwave, stirring untilsmooth. Set aside.

On a paper plate, whisk together flourand salt; set aside.

In a mixing bowl with electric beaters,beat the eggs until fluffy, about 1 minute. Gradually beat inbrown sugar. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and vanilla. Stirin flour mixture until blended. Blend in walnuts and chocolatechips. Spread the batter in a buttered13x9-inch baking pan.

Bake in a 325°F (160°C) oven for20 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comesout clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

For Cranberry Cream: Cream the butterand cream cheese together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Graduallybeat in vanilla and powdered sugar; mix in cranberries. Spreadmixture over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until set.

For Chocolate Drizzle: Melt the chocolatechips and cream over low heat or in the microwave. Cool slightly.Dip a fork into the mixture and drizzle over the cranberry layer.Chill until firm. Cut into 2×2-inch squares.

Makes 24 squares.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesyof Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.

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