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Cranberry Crumble Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 640 reviews

These Cranberry Crumble Bars feature a buttery shortbread crust combined with a tangy cranberry filling and a crumbly topping. Perfect for the holiday season or anytime you crave a sweet and tart treat, these bars balance festive flavors with a luscious vanilla glaze, delivering a delicious dessert that’s easy to make and sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

Shortbread Dough

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 1/4 cups (405 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Cranberry Filling

  • 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Glaze

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 4 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
  2. Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the large egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Mix until combined thoroughly. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and kosher salt until well combined.
  4. Mix Dough: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixer. Mix just until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender crumb.
  5. Reserve Topping Dough: Set aside roughly 2 cups of the dough loosely packed. This will be used as the crumble topping later.
  6. Press Crust: Press the remaining dough evenly into an 8 x 8 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use your hands or the flat side of a measuring cup to evenly press the dough into the corners and bottom.
  7. Pre-bake Crust: Bake the crust in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and the center is just set. Be careful not to overbake.
  8. Prepare Filling: While the crust cools slightly, in a large bowl combine fresh or frozen cranberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, orange zest, orange juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
  9. Add Filling to Crust: Pour the cranberry mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust, spreading it out gently.
  10. Add Crumble Topping: Use your hands to break the reserved 2 cups of dough into smaller, flat pieces. Distribute these pieces randomly on top of the cranberry filling, leaving gaps to allow the filling to peek through.
  11. Bake Bars: Bake for about 45 minutes at 350°F (175°C). Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil for the last 10 to 15 minutes to prevent the crumble topping from getting too dark.
  12. Cool and Glaze: Remove the bars from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, prepare the vanilla glaze by mixing sifted powdered sugar, whole milk or heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle or spread the glaze over the cooled bars before serving.

Notes

  • Use fresh or frozen cranberries; there is no need to thaw frozen berries before using.
  • Be careful not to overmix the dough to keep the shortbread tender and crumbly.
  • Covering the bars with foil during the last part of baking prevents the topping from getting too dark.
  • Allow bars to cool completely before adding glaze to prevent it from melting and running off.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with vegan butter and milk with a plant-based milk alternative.

Keywords: cranberry bars, crumble bars, holiday dessert, shortbread crust, cranberry filling, vanilla glaze, festive dessert

Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/cranberry-crumble-bars-recipe/