Delicious Cranberry Bars (Perfect for Christmas) Recipe
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.
- 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
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
- Preheat and Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) and butter a 9-inch square baking pan to prevent sticking.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
- 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
