Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars
Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars packed with 7 magical flavors to make your holiday treats unforgettable and full of festive joy
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides for easy removal later.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together to distribute everything evenly.
- In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar into the melted butter while it’s still slightly warm but not hot. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients in two parts, stirring gently but thoroughly each time until no dry streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the chopped cranberries, orange zest, and nuts (if using), ensuring the festive flavors are evenly distributed.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30-35 minutes, checking from 30 minutes onwards. The bars should spring back lightly to touch, and a toothpick inserted near the center should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before lifting out using the parchment overhang.
- Cut into squares and serve. Bars taste best the next day after flavors settle.
Find it online: https://mekara.info/moist-christmas-cranberry-bars-recipe/