Cranberry Oat Cream Cheese Bars

Indulge in the perfect balance of tart and sweet with these irresistible Cranberry Oat Cream Cheese Bars—a holiday-inspired treat that's perfect for any time of year! Featuring a buttery oat crust, a luscious cream cheese filling, and a vibrant layer of whole berry cranberry sauce, these bars are topped with a golden oat crumble for the ultimate dessert experience. Ready in just under an hour, they combine simple pantry ingredients like rolled oats, cream cheese, and cranberry sauce for a dessert that's as easy as it is impressive. Whether served as a festive addition to your holiday table or as a crowd-pleasing snack, these bars are sure to delight every palate. Perfectly chilled and easy to slice, they’re the ideal make-ahead treat for any occasion.

Nutriscore Rating: 43/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups rolled oats
• 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup light brown sugar
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (homemade or canned, whole berry)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal, and set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, and melted butter until crumbly and well combined. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for the topping.

Step 3

Press the remaining oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool slightly.

Step 4

In the meantime, prepare the cream cheese filling. In a medium bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.

Step 5

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until fully incorporated.

Step 6

Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the partially baked crust.

Step 7

Gently spoon the cranberry sauce over the cream cheese layer and spread it evenly using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.

Step 8

Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of oat mixture evenly over the top of the cranberry layer.

Step 9

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is set.

Step 10

Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set fully.

Step 11

Once chilled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into 12 squares or desired portions and serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1220.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4501.4

Total Fat 240.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 142.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.7g
Cholesterol 834.6mg	0%
Sodium 897.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 553.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.6g	0%
Total Sugars 342.2g
Protein 58.3g	0%

Vitamin D 48IU	0%
Calcium 482.1mg	0%
Iron 15.2mg	0%
Potassium 1285.0mg	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: 46.9%

Protein: 5.1%

Carbs: 48.0%