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Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Karissa Parrish
These fresh cranberry shortbread bars consists of two layers of buttery shortbread that sits between a sweet and tart cranberry filling. These are a must-bake for the holiday season!
5 from 11 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 large bars

Equipment

  • 8x8 inch baking pan
  • Pastry Cutter
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients:
 
 

Shortbread Crust & Crumble

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • cup sugar
  • cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (1.5 sticks)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cranberry Filling

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions:
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, creating "handles" that hang over the sides. Then spray with non-stick spray.

Shortbread Crust & Topping

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, corn starch, cinnamon, and salt with a whisk. Add the cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the flour until crumbly (this will take 3-4 minutes). Then mix in the beaten egg and vanilla extract using a wooden spoon.
  • Press about half of the shortbread crust onto the bottom of the prepared pan using your fingers (you will have about 3 ½ cups of this mixture). The crust will be slightly crumbly, but that's ok! Just make sure you press it down well. Set the extra shortbread mixture aside (this will also be the topping).

Cranberry Filling

  • Combine the cranberries, sugar, and honey together in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until the cranberries are well coated and then pour over the shortbread crust, even the extra sugar that is on the bottom of the bowl (you may need to use your mixing spoon to spread out the cranberries evenly). Sprinkle the rest of the shortbread mixture over the top of the cranberries.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, just until the crumble starts to turn light brown and the cranberries are bubbling (mine take about 35 minutes). Allow the bars to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing into bars (9-12 bars are made). Serve either at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator to chill. Both ways are delicious!
  • Store any leftover cranberry bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes:

  • Baking Pan: Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, creating "handles" that hang over the sides. Then spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Cold Butter: Make sure your butter is cold before adding it to the flour. The cold butter is what gives us a crumbly and flaky shortbread crust.
  • Pastry Cutter: Having one of these is super helpful for cutting the butter into the flour. If you don't have a pastry cutter, you can also use two forks or a food processor.
  • Cranberries: You can use either fresh or frozen cranberries.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 77mgPotassium: 72mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 514IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cranberry bars, cranberry shortbread bars, holiday bars
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