Description
These Cranberry Bars are a delightful treat featuring a buttery crumb crust, a tangy cranberry filling, and a crunchy crumb topping. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a flavorful snack, they combine fresh cranberries with warm spices and a hint of orange zest for a balanced sweet and tart dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust and Topping
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup cold butter, cut into small chunks
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Filling
- 16 oz fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F to prepare for baking the bars.
- Prepare Pan: Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray and line it with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, and baking powder until evenly combined.
- Add Butter: Add the cold, chunked butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or fork to work the butter into the mixture until fine crumbs form, resembling coarse sand.
- Incorporate Egg: Add the egg and mix thoroughly into the crumb mixture until fully combined, forming a crumbly dough.
- Form Crust: Press about 3 cups of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create an even crust layer.
- Set Aside Topping: Reserve the remaining crumb mixture for the topping later.
- Prepare Filling: In a separate large bowl, combine the cranberries, sugar, and cornstarch. Mix well to evenly distribute the sugar and cornstarch among the cranberries.
- Layer Filling: Spread the cranberry filling evenly over the pressed crust in the pan.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture evenly over the cranberry filling, covering it with the crumb topping.
- Bake: Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is slightly golden and the filling is bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool to room temperature in the pan. Once cooled, slice into 12 bars and serve.
Notes
- For a zestier flavor, adjust the amount of orange zest according to your preference.
- Frozen cranberries can be used if fresh are not available; no need to thaw before mixing.
- Make sure the butter is cold to achieve the best crumb texture for the crust and topping.
- You can line the pan with aluminum foil if parchment paper is unavailable, but parchment yields easier removal.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- These bars can be served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for added indulgence.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry bars, cranberry dessert, crumb topping bars, holiday dessert, easy baking, fruit bars
