Description
Cranberry crumble bars dance with tangy sweetness in this simple dessert that brings comfort to your kitchen table. Buttery crumble layers and zesty cranberry filling make these bars a perfect treat for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cranberries
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 large egg
Seasoning and Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep your 8×8-inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper. Set your oven to 350°F and give the pan a quick spray of nonstick cooking spray for extra insurance.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine 1 ½ cups oats, 1 ¼ cups flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Add ½ cup softened butter, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to your dry mixture. Use your hands to blend until the dough feels crumbly but can hold together when squeezed. Set aside 1 cup of this mixture for your topping.
- In another bowl, toss 1 ½ cups cranberries with ¼ cup honey until the berries are evenly coated and glistening.
- Press the remaining dough firmly into the bottom of your prepared pan, creating an even base layer that covers the entire pan surface.
- Spread the cranberry mixture across the dough, ensuring an even distribution of berries from corner to corner.
- Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of crumble mixture over the cranberry layer, letting some chunks remain larger for a rustic texture.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 42-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and bubbling edges.
- Remove the pan and let the bars cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours, which helps them set and makes cutting easier.
- Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into 9 perfect squares using a sharp knife.
Notes
- Always use fresh or frozen cranberries for the best flavor and texture in the crumble bars.
- Press the crust mixture firmly into the pan to create a solid base that won’t crumble when cutting.
- If your cranberries are particularly tart, adjust the honey or maple syrup to balance the sweetness to your preference.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 198 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 28 mg