Cozy, bright, and bursting with holiday flavor — these Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites are the perfect little treat when holiday baking season is in full swing and you’re out of time and energy. Inspired by Starbucks’ Bliss Bars, they pack the tart-sweet magic of cranberries and fresh orange zest into tender, no-bake bites you can whip up in minutes!
Even better? They’re vegan, gluten-free, and require zero baking — making them a lifesaver during the busy holiday season. A drizzle of white chocolate (or creamy coconut butter) makes them extra festive, but they’re just as delicious on their own. Let’s make bliss bites!
Recipe Inspiration
Besides tasting absolutely magical, these bliss bites get their name because they’re inspired by the legendary Bliss Bars from Starbucks (IYKYK!). The Starbucks bars have a chewy blondie base with cream cheese frosting, cranberries, white chocolate, and orange zest — total swoon!
How to Make Cranberry Bliss Bites
To create a simpler version, we drew inspiration from a favorite around here: our No-Bake Sugar Cookie Bites! Similar to the cookie bites, these bliss bites have an oat flour + almond flour base. They’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup, have a hint of salt and vanilla for flavor, and coconut oil turns the mixture into a dough.
The addition of orange juice + zest and dried cranberries kick things up a notch and sends them into Bliss Bar territory!
The final touch is an optional drizzle of melted white chocolate chips, coconut butter, or our favorite — a mix of the two! While the white chocolate creates a thicker, sweeter, and more decadent frosting, the coconut butter creates a drippier texture and adds a more pronounced coconut flavor that we enjoy. The combination is the best of both worlds!
We hope you LOVE these bites! They’re:
Zesty
Bright
Sweet with pops of tartness
Decadent yet wholesome
Quick + easy to make
& SO delicious!
These are the perfect little treat to make during the fall and winter months. They’ve got you covered whether you want something on hand to satisfy sweet cravings during the work week or need a quick healthier dessert to bring to a gathering.
More Cranberry Orange Treats
- Gluten-Free Cranberry Orange Muffins (Vegan)
- Cranberry Orange Cookie Bars (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
- Orange Cranberry Crisp (Gluten-Free & Easy!)
- 1-Bowl Cranberry Orange Scones (Vegan + GF)
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
No-Bake Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour (we used homemade // ensure certified gluten-free as needed)
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3 tsp orange zest (plus ~1/2 tsp more for garnish)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- 4 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp orange juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries (unsweetened when possible, option to slightly chop for less chewiness)
- 2-4 Tbsp melted white chocolate chips or coconut butter* (optional // see notes for details // ensure white chocolate is vegan-friendly if needed — we like Enjoy Life)
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet or flat plate with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together oat flour, almond flour, orange zest, and sea salt. Next, add melted coconut oil, maple syrup, orange juice, and vanilla extract. Stir with a spoon until dough comes together and resembles cookie dough. It should be slightly tacky but not stick to your hands, and it shouldn’t be crumbly. If too dry, add a bit more maple syrup or melted coconut oil. If too wet, add more almond flour. Now fold in the cranberries until evenly distributed.
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more maple syrup for sweetness, vanilla to taste, salt to balance / enhance the flavors, or orange zest for more brightness / citrus flavor.
- Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop (or a similarly sized scoop or measuring spoon) scoop out dough and roll into balls. We recommend placing the dough in the palm of one hand and using gentle pressure with the middle three fingers of your other hand to roll into a ball. If they’re too crumbly, they likely just need a bit more maple syrup or melted coconut oil to help moisten.
- Place cookie bites on the parchment-lined plate or baking sheet. If not adding frosting, enjoy as is or chill for 15 minutes so they can firm up a bit.
- FROSTING: Melt white chocolate and/or coconut butter in 15-second increments in the microwave until just spoonable / pourable. Then drizzle onto the bites. Option to decorate with extra orange zest. Transfer to the refrigerator or freezer to chill for 15 minutes before enjoying.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Best enjoyed slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
*Another option that looks really cute (and doesn’t require melting the white chocolate chips to make “frosting”) is to roll the bites in mini white chocolate chips.
*Inspired by Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bars and adapted from our No-Bake Sugar Cookie Bites.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.
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