Cranberry Crumble Bars

These Cranberry Crumble Bars taste just like the holidays, bursting with fragrant orange, cinnamon and cranberry flavors on a buttery oat shortbread-style crust with crumble topping. They are so incredibly easy to make as the crust and topping are made from the same mixture which saves time and uses fewer bowls. This is so much easier than making pie, and believe me that they taste just as good if not better! If you love this idea, you'll also love my Blueberry Pie Bars, Triple Berry Crumble Bars and these Strawberry Shortcake Bars.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Easy to make - this recipe is easy to prepare because you only need to make the base crust and the crumble topping from the same mixture. That means less steps and less bowls (and less dishes!).
• One pan recipe - you don't need to pre-cook the filling for this recipe. Instead you just blend the berries with sugar and spread them over the pre-baked crust.
• Juicy cranberry filling - you bake these bars until the filling is bubbling. There's just the right amount of corn starch to thicken it to this beautiful jammy consistency so that the bars cut neatly, yet the still remain juicy.
• Tart and tangy flavor - I can't even begin to describe how delicious and addictive these are. The hint of cinnamon and orange in the filling with the perfect amount of sugar makes your tongue tingle as it lights up your tastebuds!
• Buttery oat crumble - the crumble has just the right amount of oats for some texture and the pure buttery flavor complements the fruity filling.
• Taste of the holidays - the cinnamon + orange + cranberry pairing will make you feel so cozy and nostalgic.
• Crisp base crust - despite not needing to par bake the crust, it is still crisp and firm even after baking with the fruit filling.
• Make ahead dessert - since the crust stays crisp, these bars keep so well which makes them perfect for making ahead during the holidays.

INGREDIENTS FOR CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

• All-purpose flour - simple all-purpose flour works great in this recipe. I use unbleached flour.
• Butter - you can use unsalted or salted butter to make the crust and crumble mixture for a rich dairy taste. If you use salted butter reduce the added salt in the recipe by half.
• Pure vanilla extract - vanilla will round out the tart flavors of the filling. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
• Brown sugar - you can use dark brown or light brown sugar. It adds a nice butterscotch taste to the crust. Make sure you pack it down in your measuring cup if you are not using a scale to weigh ingredients.
• Granulated sugar - white granulated sugar adds the right amount of sweetness to balance the tartness of cranberries. I use just the right amount so they are still pleasantly tart.
• Baking powder - a bit of leavening makes the crust tender and crisp.

• Salt - every dessert recipe needs a bit of salt to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors.
• Oats - you'll need rolled oats for this recipe. I use large flake rolled oats which are larger than quick oats which are broken down more so they cook faster.
• Cranberries - you can use fresh or frozen cranberries to make the filling. I often use frozen cranberries and let them thaw for 15 minutes before preparing the filling.
• Orange - orange and cranberry is a classic combination and the two fruity flavors marry well together. You'll use all of the zest for the filling, and just a bit of the juice too.
• Cinnamon - a bit of cinnamon in the filling makes the cranberries pop! This marriage of cranberry, cinnamon, orange and vanilla makes your tastebuds sing and tastes just like the holidays.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

• STEP 1). Make the base and topping. Combine flour, oats, almond flour brown sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Make sure that it is evenly blended with no lumps of brown sugar. Add the cooled melted butter and stir until the mixture is evenly combined and it holds together in moist clumps with no dry spots remaining.
• STEP 2). Reserve the topping. Remove one-third of the crumb/crust mixture and set it aside for the topping.
• STEP 3). Form the base crust. Tip ⅔ of the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Press it evenly into the pan with your hands, and then smooth it out with the bottom of a measuring cup. Bake until golden and then set aside to cool slightly.
• STEP 4). Make the filling. Place the berries in a medium bowl. Add sugar, flour and cornstarch and toss together to blend evenly to coat the berries. Add the preserves and mix it in gently.
• STEP 5). Top the bars. Spoon the filling over the crust and spread it out evenly. Crumble the remaining crust mixture over the filling leaving it in clumps.
• STEP 6). Bake for about 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and the berry filling is bubbling around the edges.
• STEP 7). Cool. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let the bars cool completely in the pan. Then, cover and refrigerate the cooled bars for 2 hours.

EXPERT BAKING TIPS FOR CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

• Thaw the berries slightly - cranberries are a very sturdy fruit with a thick skin and less juice compared to other berries such as raspberries, blueberries cherries or strawberries. As a result, I like to let them thaw for about 15 minutes before starting to bake to give them a head start on cooking down. Unlike more those more delicate berries, cranberries won't leach juices as they thaw since they have thicker cell walls.
• Let the bars cool completely then chill. These bars hold together so nicely that you can enjoy them warm, however I love how they hold up after being chilled for about an hour.
• Bake until bubbling. Corn starch doesn't reach its fully thickening potential until it heats to nearly boiling point, so let the juices boil before considering these bars done.

RECIPE FAQ

If you love baking with berries, check out these recipes!

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Cake Easy Blueberry Pie Bars Strawberry Crumb Cake Brown Butter Peach Crumb Cake Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins Blueberry Pie Bars White Chocolate Raspberry Blondies Easy Lemon Tart Recipe Lemon Raspberry Cake Strawberry Matcha Latte Cheesecake Bars Strawberry Lemon Cake Almond Raspberry Lemon Bars

More easy bar recipes

Looking for more quick and easy one-pan bakes? Try these: