Cranberry Crumb Bars

Cranberry Crumb Bars

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I’m writing this post from a cozy nook on my Parent’s couch, very happy to be back in the Midwest for the week. Unfortunately I have a nasty head cold and feel kind of miserable, but there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than with my Mama who is the best at taking care of me when I’m sick. (Aren’t all Moms?)

I had a different recipe planned to share today, but yesterday I whipped these up before I flew to Milwaukee and my plans were changed. I always try to bring a treat of some kind home with me for my fam and this was a last minute thought. I had a bag of cranberries in the fridge, some oranges (sick girls need their vitamin C you know,) and all the other simple ingredients needed to make this. I made a blueberry version of these over the summer, and have been waiting for a chance to change up the filling. Anyway- my family loved these so much last night that I thought I should share them with you right away!

Cranberry Crumb Bars

These bars are simple to throw together, festive, and delicious. They would be great for a Holiday dessert spread, gift box, or any other of the fun activities that may be coming over the next month. I’m all about bar desserts that look pretty and come together in an instant and these are all of that and more.  Whatever you end up making for your feast tomorrow I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I’ll make sure to post some highlights from our meal over the weekend. And cross your fingers that my wedding venue search on Friday is s big success!!! :)

Cranberry Crumb Bars

Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, 2 sticks or 8 ounces
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Zest from one orange
  • 2 tablespoons of orange juice
  • 4 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and orange zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. (I use my hands.) Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
  3. In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and orange juice. Gently mix in the cranberries, add the cinnamon. Sprinkle the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Adapted from: Smitten Kitchen

19 Comments

  1. I’ve been looking for more recipes that involve fresh cranberries and I’m so glad you posted this! I’ll be making these very soon, they look so delicious! Thank you for sharing and I hope you feel better :) Have a great Thanksgiving!

  2. Interesting! Being German Streusel/crumb cake is an absolute staple for me, but cranberries are such an American thing, and I have no managed to learn to like them yet. This might be an interesting test exercise for me :)

  3. Glad you are home, hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving in WI! This is our first not there possibly EVER!
    The bars look wonderful – I was just thinking of making something like this today with my excess cranberries!

  4. These are SOOO pretty, and they look easy and delicious! What a perfect treat to bring for Thanksgiving. Have a great weekend! Hope you are feeling better soon. And yes, mamas are the best when their babies are sick! :)

  5. These look heavenly! I wish I could still get cranberries up here in Canada. Happy Thanksgiving!

  6. This looks so lovely!! I would love to have this on my table for dessert. :) Wishing you a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!! ~ Ramona

  7. Audra, those bars look amazing!!! I love cranberries but sadly my wife does not, I think those little beauties might convince her to give them a try. If not I would make the sacrifice and eat them all myself!! I hope you enjoyed a very happy Thanksgiving with your family!

  8. I’m always looking for ways to use up fresh cranberries and this looks SO good!

  9. Ok so I have had a bag of cranberries in my fridge for like a week trying to figure out what to do with them and I came upon this and fell in LOVE! I am allergic to oranges so I subbed lemons and they were amazing!

  10. Can you do this in a smaller pan ? Like an 8 x8 or 9 x 9 ? Would I just half the ingredients ? Looks yummy.

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