Cranberry Bars

Celebrate the flavors of the season with these irresistible Cranberry Bars, a perfect blend of tart and sweet that’s ideal for holiday gatherings or everyday indulgence. Featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a vibrant cranberry filling enhanced with zesty orange juice and zest, and a crumbly golden topping, these bars are a true crowd-pleaser. With just 20 minutes of prep time and made with simple pantry staples like flour, sugar, and butter, they’re surprisingly easy to whip up. Serve them as a festive dessert, a show-stopping treat at brunch, or a midday snack with a cup of tea. Whether you're using fresh or frozen cranberries, these vibrant, tangy-sweet bars will brighten any occasion!

Nutriscore Rating: 52/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 16

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups All-purpose flour
• 1 cup Granulated sugar
• 1 cup Unsalted butter
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 12 ounces Fresh or frozen cranberries
• 0.5 cup Light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Orange zest
• 0.25 cup Orange juice
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy removal.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Whisk to incorporate.

Step 3

Cut the butter into small cubes and add it to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to blend the butter into the flour mixture until a crumbly dough forms.

Step 4

Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining dough firmly into the prepared pan to create an even crust.

Step 5

Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the filling.

Step 6

In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, light brown sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries break down and the mixture thickens (about 8-10 minutes).

Step 7

In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water. Stir this into the cranberry mixture and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fully thickened. Remove the pan from heat and let the filling cool for a few minutes.

Step 8

Spread the cranberry filling evenly over the baked crust.

Step 9

Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the cranberry layer, creating a crumb topping.

Step 10

Bake the cranberry bars in the oven for an additional 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.

Step 11

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift them out. Cut into 16 squares and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1144.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3283.0

Total Fat 99.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 56.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 248mg	0%
Sodium 1233.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 587.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 22.2g	0%
Total Sugars 321.3g
Protein 33.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 170.9mg	0%
Iron 15.3mg	0%
Potassium 898.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 26.6%

Protein: 4.0%

Carbs: 69.4%