Description
Delicious homemade cranberry bars featuring a buttery crumb crust and a tangy cranberry filling, perfect for a festive treat or everyday dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust and Topping
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
For the Cranberry Filling
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- Zest of 1 orange (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to easily lift out the bars later.
- Make the Dough: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Incorporate the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the beaten egg to form a crumbly dough.
- Press Crust: Firmly press half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the crust layer. Set aside the remaining dough to use as the topping.
- Prepare Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, and water. Cook while stirring frequently until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the orange zest if using, then remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.
- Assemble Bars: Spread the cranberry filling evenly over the prepared crust. Crumble the reserved dough over the cranberry layer to create a crumb topping.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before using the parchment overhang to lift them out. Slice into 12 bars and serve.
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen cranberries for the filling; just ensure frozen are thawed slightly before cooking.
- Adding orange zest enhances the berry flavor but is optional.
- For easier slicing, cool the bars completely or refrigerate before cutting.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
