Healthier Starbucks Lemon Bliss Bars (Gluten-Free)

Healthy Starbucks Copycat Recipe

What would you say if I told you that Starbucks bliss bars are a powerhouse of…well, sugar.

From the white chocolate to the frosting, these delicious treats are totally full of refined sugar.

But they’re so yummy.

That being said, what would you do if I told you that you can make a healthier Starbucks copycat recipe in your own kitchen? Rush to the kitchen to whip up a batch of your own?

Then I have good news for you today, friend: You don’t have to choose between a healthy snack and a delicious one. A few simple exchanges of ingredients are all you need to do to make a healthier Starbucks copycat recipe for bliss bars.

These Healthier Starbucks Lemon-Cranberry Bliss Bars have a lot going for them without being too complicated to make in the comfort of your own home.

Starbucks Bliss Bars with Almond Flour

One of the first adjustments I made to these cranberry bliss bars was to sub out the refined flour for something more nutritious: almond flour.

What makes almond flour better? Vitamins and macrominerals.

Besides being gluten-free, “[a]lmond flour is rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. It’s also an excellent source of: Manganese. Magnesium” (source).

And using almond flour instead of all-purpose flour is an extremely easy substitute to make. (In my opinion, it also keeps the bars moist after they bake.)

Starbucks Bliss Bars Copycat with Lemon Zest

Another tweak to this recipe: real lemon zest.

While the original recipe I found called for orange extract, I thought zest would do just as well–only I didn’t have an orange in my kitchen at the time. And I was right: The lemon adds the perfect amount of flavor to complement the cranberries in the bars, without being overpowering.

Just something to note: For this recipe, make sure to use an organic lemon in order to avoid any pesticides that might be present in non-organic peels.

Starbucks Bliss Bars with Honey

As with most (if not all) of my “healthier” takes on famous recipes, I had to change the sweetener in this recipe. Honey came to the rescue yet again.

In the bars alone, using honey allowed me to reduce the sugar content by at least two-thirds (yay!).

And the frosting took on a new depth of flavor because of this natural sweetener.

Lemon + Cranberry Bliss Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

One reason why I love the frosting for this Starbucks bliss bars recipe: It’s low in sugar. Another? It’s simply scrumptious.

By skipping the powdered sugar in this recipe and using honey instead, we actually enhance the flavor of the cream cheese frosting and reduce the sugar content at the same time.

Tools Needed to Make Starbucks Bliss Bars Copycat

Is your mouth watering yet? Let’s gather a few materials and get to baking your own batch of these delicious bliss bars!

You will need:

• a stand mixer
• a medium-sized mixing bowl
• an 8″x8″ baking dish (a 7″x11″ pan can work, too)
• a reusable silicone baking mat (or parchment paper)
• a spatula
• a butter knife or frosting piping bag
• an airtight glass container (for storage)

Ingredients for Lemon Bliss Bars Starbucks Copycat

Lemon + Cranberry Bars

• 6 Tbsp. grass-fed unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup honey (we use Linden honey)
• 1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• Zest of one organic lemon
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 cup organic dried cranberries

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 4 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 1 tsp. organic whole milk
• 1 tsp. honey
• 2 Tbsp. organic dried cranberries, minced (for garnish)

How to Make Healthier Lemon Bliss Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Line an 8″x8″ baking dish with a reusable silicone baking mat or parchment paper. (We use an Ikea 7″x11″ ceramic pan, and it works fine too.) Set aside.
3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together melted butter, egg, honey, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Mix until no lumps remain and every ingredient is fully incorporated.
4. Add the almond flour, dried cranberries, and sea salt and mix well.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Because the bars are very moist, they might not look dry in the middle of the pan, but 20 minutes should be long enough to bake. Do NOT over-bake.
6. Remove the bars from the oven and allow to cool completely.
7. FOR THE FROSTING: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the cream cheese, vanilla extract, almond extract, milk, and honey on medium-high speed until no lumps remain.
8. Slice the bars. (I usually slice them in rectangles just like granola bars rather than in the fancy triangles that Starbucks does.) Spread the cream cheese frosting on top of each bar. You can do this using a butter knife or (to be fancy) with a frosting piping bag. Sprinkle the minced dried cranberries on top for garnish.
9. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe Variations

If you want to add even more nutritional value to these bars, mix in one or two tablespoons of an unsweetened, grass-fed protein powder.

We love the pairing of dried cranberries with the lemon flavor. However, you can try other dried fruit instead of cranberries. Some favorite options: dried blueberries or dried orange.

Storage Instructions

Because these bars use a cream cheese frosting, store them in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also freeze these bars, though the cream cheese frosting will change in texture. (If you do freeze them, I recommend doing so without the frosting and then adding frosting when you thaw them to eat.)

Other Sweet Homemade Snacks

If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth with something nutritious, try these other great sweet snack recipes:

• Healthy Honey Brownies
• High-Protein Dark Chocolate Marshmallows
• Healthy Sugar-Free Berry Sorbet
• Maple Syrup Kettle Corn (with Protein Powder)
• Healthy High-Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Yogurt