White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

I made these for a Christmas get-together a few weeks ago.  They were quite tasty.  Merry Christmas everyone!

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

adapted from Taste of Home

3/4 cup butter, cubed
1-1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 ounces real white chocolate, coarsely chopped (or use real white choc. chips)

Frosting:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese or Neufchatel, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel, optional
6 ounces real white chocolate, melted
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Melt butter in a small pan; stir in brown sugar. Transfer to a large bowl; cool to room temperature. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to butter mixture. Stir in cranberries and chopped chocolate (batter will be thick).

2.  Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool on a wire rack.

3.  For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar (and orange peel if desired) until blended. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost blondies. Sprinkle with cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

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