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stack of cranberry bars

Cranberry Crumble Pie Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 60 reviews
  • Author: Sally
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 hours (includes cooling)
  • Yield: 18-24 squares
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These cranberry crumble pie bars combine a buttery flaky shortbread crust, jammy cranberry filling, and crumbly almond topping. The crust and crumble topping are made from the same mixture, so there’s no need to dirty an additional bowl.


Ingredients

  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) milk*
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • optional: 1/3 cup (30g) sliced almonds

Cranberry Filling

  • 4 cups (400g) fresh or frozen cranberries (do not thaw)
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest
  • 1 Tablespoon (15g) fresh orange juice

Orange Icing (Optional)

  • 2 Tablespoons (30ml) fresh orange juice
  • 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished bars out (makes cutting easier!). Set aside.
  2. Make the crumble mixture for the crust and topping: Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Add the cubed butter and using a pastry cutter, two forks, or a food processor, cut in the butter until all the flour is coated and resembles pea-sized crumbles. (See photo above for a visual.) This takes at least 5 minutes of cutting in with a pastry cutter.
  3. Whisk the egg, milk, and vanilla together in a small bowl. Pour over the flour/butter mixture and gently mix together until the mixture resembles moist crumbly sand. See photo above for a visual.
  4. You will have about 6 cups of the crust/crumble mixture. Set 2 cups aside. Pour the remaining into the prepared pan and flatten down with your hands or a flat spatula to form an even crust. It will be a little crumbly—that’s ok. Set aside. (Almonds will be used in the topping in the next step.)
  5. Cranberry Filling: Mix all of the cranberry filling ingredients together. Spread over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture all over the cranberries. Sprinkle the almonds all over top.
  6. Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out *mostly* clean (with a few jammy cranberry specks!). Mine take about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack. After about 1 hour, I stick the whole pan in the refrigerator to help speed things up.
  7. Make the icing and cut into squares: Whisk the icing ingredients together. Add more orange juice to thin out, if desired. Drizzle over cooled bars, then cut into squares.
  8. Cover and store leftover cranberry bars (with or without icing) at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

  1. Make Ahead Instructions: Iced or plain bars freeze well up to 3 months. Arrange in even layers in a large freezer container between sheets of parchment. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before icing and/or serving.
  2. Special Tools (affiliate links): 9×13-inch Glass Baking Pan or 9×13-inch Metal Baking Pan | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Pastry Cutter | Cooling Rack
  3. Milk: I use and recommend whole milk, but nondairy or lower fat milks will work too.