Cranberry Crumble Bars Recipe

Cranberry Crumble Bars feature buttery shortbread crust, jammy tart cranberry filling, and crunchy oat crumble topping for holiday dessert perfection. Ready in 60 minutes, they balance sweet and tangy with make-ahead ease.

Why This Recipe Works

• Shortbread base stays crisp under juicy filling.
• Cranberries provide natural tartness cutting sugar.
• Oat crumble adds texture contrast.
• Orange zest brightens flavors.
• Freezer-friendly for gifting.

Ingredients & Prep

Crust & Crumble:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 egg

Cranberry Filling:

• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup orange juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp vanilla

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; line 8×8-inch pan with parchment.
2. Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in egg.
3. Press ⅔ mixture firmly into pan; bake 15 minutes.
4. Simmer cranberries, sugar, juice, zest, cornstarch, and vanilla 5–7 minutes until thickened.
5. Spread filling over warm crust; sprinkle remaining crumble. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden. Cool completely.

Flavor Variations

Storage Tips

Room temperature 3 days; refrigerate 1 week. Freeze up to 2 months.

FAQs

Filling runny?
Cook longer or add extra cornstarch.

Crumble soggy?
Use cold butter and don’t overmix.

No fresh cranberries?
Canned sauce works with less sugar.

Conclusion

Cranberry Crumble Bars deliver festive tart-sweet joy perfect cookie swap star.

Cranberry Crumble Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

Sweet-tart cranberry crumble bars with a buttery oat shortbread base and topping. These festive bars are easy to make and perfect for holidays, cookie trays, or afternoon treats.

• Author: ssam
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Yield: 16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• Crust & Crumble:
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Cranberry Filling:
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• 2. In a large bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, and vanilla.
• 3. Stir in flour, oats, and salt until crumbly.
• 4. Press about two-thirds of the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan.
• 5. In another bowl, toss cranberries with sugar, cornstarch, orange juice, zest, and cinnamon.
• 6. Spread cranberry mixture evenly over the crust.
• 7. Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture on top.
• 8. Bake 35–40 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
• 9. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

• Frozen cranberries can be used without thawing.
• Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble for extra crunch.
• Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a festive finish.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 35mg

Keywords: cranberry crumble bars, cranberry dessert, holiday dessert bars