Delicious Cranberry Bars (Perfect for Christmas) Recipe

Introduction

These Delicious Cranberry Bars are a perfect festive treat, combining tart cranberries with a sweet, crumbly topping. Ideal for Christmas celebrations, they offer a wonderful balance of flavors and textures that everyone will love.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature, plus extra for the pan)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• Zest from one orange (organic if possible)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• For the topping:
• 1 cup plain flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter (cold, cut into 1/4-inch pieces)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C). Butter a 9-inch square baking pan to prevent sticking.
2. Step 2: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl to ensure even distribution.
3. Step 3: Beat the butter, sugar, and orange zest on medium-high speed with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in the vanilla essence.
4. Step 4: Using a spoon, add the sifted flour mixture in three parts, alternating with sour cream in two parts, starting and ending with the flour. Scrape the bowl sides and gently fold in 1 cup of cranberries.
5. Step 5: For the crumb topping, combine flour, sugars, salt, and cold butter in a food processor or mixer until coarse crumbs form. Drizzle in vanilla essence and mix briefly. Set aside excess topping if preferred.
6. Step 6: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Top with the remaining cranberries, then sprinkle the crumb topping. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until golden and firm. Cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips & Variations

• Use frozen cranberries straight from the freezer to prevent the batter from turning pink and maintain a nice tart flavor.
• Swap sour cream for Greek yogurt for a lighter but still moist texture.
• Add chopped nuts to the crumb topping for extra crunch and flavor.
• For a citrus twist, add a teaspoon of orange juice to the batter along with the zest.

Storage

Wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. To keep longer, refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat gently in a microwave or oven before serving to bring back their fresh-baked warmth.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dried cranberries instead of fresh or frozen?

While dried cranberries can be used, they are sweeter and less tart, which will change the flavor balance. If substituting, consider reducing the added sugar slightly.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes, substitute the plain flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Ensure your baking powder is also gluten-free for best results.

Delicious Cranberry Bars (Perfect for Christmas) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 119 reviews

These Delicious Cranberry Bars are perfect for Christmas or any festive occasion. Featuring a tender, buttery base flavored with orange zest and vanilla, studded with fresh cranberries, and topped with a sweet crumbly topping, they offer a wonderful balance of tartness and sweetness. Baked to a golden finish, these bars make a delightful treat for holiday gatherings or cozy winter afternoons.

• Author: Logan
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 9 to 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Base:

• 1 3/4 cups plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature (plus extra for the pan)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• Zest from one orange (organic if possible)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

For the Topping:

• 1 cup plain flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) and butter a 9-inch square baking pan to prevent sticking.
2. Sift Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution and a light texture in the batter.
3. Cream Butter, Sugar, and Add Wet Ingredients: Using a mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and orange zest on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in vanilla essence.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Use a spoon to alternately add the sifted flour mixture in three parts and sour cream in two parts, starting and ending with flour. Scrap the bowl sides as you mix. Gently fold in 1 cup cranberries.
5. Prepare the Crumb Topping: In a food processor or mixer, combine flour, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, and butter until the texture forms coarse crumbs. Drizzle in vanilla essence and mix briefly. Reserve some topping if fewer crumbs are preferred.
6. Assemble and Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the buttered pan. Top with remaining 1 cup cranberries and crumble the crumb topping over. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until lightly golden and firm to the touch.
7. Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
8. Storage: Wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap. They can be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days for optimal freshness.

Notes

• Use fresh or frozen cranberries; if using frozen, do not thaw before mixing.
• Make sure butter for the base is at room temperature while butter for topping remains cold for best crumb texture.
• Optional: add nuts such as walnuts or pecans in the crumb topping for extra crunch.
• These bars can be refrigerated for up to 5 days wrapped tightly or frozen for longer storage.
• The orange zest adds a bright, fresh flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.

Keywords: cranberry bars, Christmas dessert, crumb topping, holiday baking, orange zest cranberry bars