The Best Cranberry Crumb Bars (So Easy!)
These Cranberry Crumb Bars are so festive and perfect for holiday baking and gifting! They have a buttery crust, a tart and jammy cranberry filling, and a tender crumble topping. So easy to make and so tasty!
One of Our Favorite Holiday Baking Treats
Do you want to know just how good these Cranberry Crumb Bars are? As Mary Poppins would say, they’re practically perfect in every way. I have made 3 pans of them just this week.
So practically perfect that they’re verging on actual perfection minus the part about how they aren’t exactly health food. Okay, before you go all oh-my-gosh-are-you-crazy? and that’s-so-bad-for-you on me let me justify those three pans first. Okay?
Pan #1: made them for us. We devoured them. I had the last one for breakfast yesterday because it was calling my name in the fridge. It was the last one in the pan and the pan was just taking up way too much space since it wasn’t really serving any purpose by housing only one bar.
So, I took the bar out. Then, I put the pan in the dishwasher. And after that, I ate the bar. The end. Oh except for the part where Logan tells me that he “only [likes] the chocolate brownies.”
Making these Cranberry Crumb Bars
Pan #2 and #3: Made both today. Logan and Madeline had a grand time helping me press the crust in and then proceeded to litter the kitchen with flour, sugar, and baking powder. I was also trying to make Beef with Broccoli for dinner at the same time. Am I crazy or what? Please don’t answer that.
The second batch is for our MOMS Club Garage Sale/Bake Sale tomorrow morning. Pan #3 part 1 is for a friend’s family. Pan #3 part two is for us. Again. I could hardly wait for them to chill before a.) delivering them and b.) eating them myself. So I ate some unchilled and they were a mess to cut into, but still really good. Though I do like them better chilled. I also think they’re the perfect treat for the upcoming holidays, or any time you want your kitchen to smell awesome.
P.S. Cranberries are good for you. Right? Right.
Ingredients in Cranberry Crumb Bars
These easy Cranberry Crumb Bars has the perfect balance of sweet and tart! Here’s a quick overview of the necessary ingredients for the different components of the recipe:
Crust and Crumb Topping Ingredients:
You’ll use the same mixture for the buttery crust and the crumble topping that goes on top of the tart cranberry filling. To make it, you need:
- Granulated Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- All-Purpose Flour
- Almond Meal or Almond Flour
- Cold Butter
- Egg
- Ground Cinnamon
Cranberry Filling Ingredients:
Here’s what you’ll need to make the delicious jammy cranberry filling that is sandwiched in between the crust and the crumble topping:
- Orange Juice
- Orange Zest
- Fresh Cranberries
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Cornstarch
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Cranberry Crumb Bars
Here’s a quick overview of the process to make this super simple cranberry crumble bar recipe:
- First, prepare the buttery crumb mixture (this flour mixture will act as both the crust and the crumble topping).
- After that, press half the crumb mixture into a parchment paper-lined 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
- Next, combine cranberries with the rest of the cranberry filling ingredients, then spoon over the crust.
- Sprinkle remaining crumbs in an even layer over the cranberry filling.
- Then, bake the cranberry bars until the crumble topping is golden brown.
- Let cool completely before slicing and serving.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Tips for Making this Cranberry Crumb Bar Recipe
Lining the pan with parchment paper makes it easier to get the cranberry bars out. If you’ve never used parchment paper to line a pan before, check out this tutorial: How to Line Pans with Parchment Paper.
You can use fresh cranberries or frozen cranberries in this recipe, just make sure you are using whole cranberries. In this recipe, frozen cranberries do not need to be thawed first. Frozen cranberries are great because you can make these cranberry crumb bars out of season if you’re craving them.
Make sure you use chilled butter to prepare the crust and crumb topping mixture. You’ll get the best results when you cut the butter into the flour.
Cool at room temperature on a wire rack first and then transfer them to the refrigerator to chill completely. Cut after they are cold. The cranberry crumb bars will be much easier to cut into squares.
How to Store Cranberry Crumb Bars
Depending on your usage purposes, these cranberry crumb bars can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer.
How to Store Leftovers in the Fridge
Transfer cut bars into an airtight container and store in the leftovers in the refrigerator. They stay fresher when stored refrigerator and storing in a sealed container helps prevent them from drying out.
How to Freeze this Recipe
Prepare the bars according to the recipe. After chilling the bars and cutting them into squares, place them on a parchment paper lined baking pan.
Place the baking pan in the freezer and freeze the cut bars just until they are frozen (flash freeze).
Then, remove the frozen bars and transfer them to a zip top freezer bag, layering them flat. Zip the bag, removing as much air as possible. Then, transfer the bag to the freezer.
Try this Easy Cranberry Crumb Bars Recipe!
Next time you’re looking for great dessert for a holiday party give these delicious Cranberry Crumb Bars a try! Did you think they were perfect for this time of year? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of these cranberry dessert bars.
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More Recipes for Holiday Baking
If you’re looking for additional inspiration for your Christmas treats this year, here are a few other favorite Christmas recipes. Be sure to check out the whole Christmas Recipes Archive right here if you need help building the rest of your holiday recipe plans.
Bittersweet Chocolate Swirl Fruit and Nut Bark pairs bittersweet chocolate, white chocolate, almonds, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin and chia seeds for a sweet treat during the holidays.
Chocolate Dipped Nuts are a delicious, healthy treat. Mix it up by using a variety of different nuts: pecans, walnuts, and almonds, for example.
For those who crave savory treats, these Sweet and Spicy Rosemary Bar Nuts are always a hit. Mixed nuts meet rosemary, cayenne, cumin, brown sugar, and maple syrup.
Gingerbread Cookies are classic during the holiday season, but these Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies offer a fun and unique twist on the traditional.
One of our favorite Christmas cookies is this tasty ginger recipe that doesn’t require cut outs is this Caramel Pecan Gingersnap Thumbprints recipe.
Salted Vanilla Maple Nut and Seed Clusters taste indulgent but are anything but since they’re packed with all sorts of heart-healthy seeds and nuts.
If you like candied nuts, try these Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Walnuts. They make a perfect gift when tied up in a bag with a bow, or in a pretty jar. They’re also great to set out for snacking during a holiday party.
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Cranberry Crumb Bars
These Cranberry Crumb Bars are so festive and perfect for holiday baking and gifting!
Ingredients
For the Crust and Crumb Topping
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond meal*
- 1 cup cold butter (2 sticks)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
For the Cranberry Filling
- juice of 1/2 of an orange
- zest of one orange
- 4 cups fresh cranberries**
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 Tbs cornstarch
Instructions
Recipe Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper.
Making the Crust and Crumb Topping
- In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup sugar, flour, almond flour, salt and baking powder. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. The dough will be crumbly.
- Alternatively, you can pulse the dry ingredients in a food processor with the butter until pebbly, and then mix in the egg until it all comes together.
- Pat half of the dough into the buttered pan.
- Add 1/4 tsp cinnamon to the remaining dough, then set aside to use for the topping.
Making the Cranberry Filling
- In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, orange juice and zest. Mix in the cranberries. Sprinkle the cranberry mixture evenly over the dough in the pan.
- Crumble the remaining dough over the cranberry mixture.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until top is a light golden brown.
- Cool completely and chill in the refrigerator before cutting into squares.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
* I used these almonds. Just toss them in a food processor until finely ground to make almond meal.
**stock up while cranberries are abundant in stores. Just toss them in the freezer and use as you need. They'll be good for about a year. If you're using frozen fresh cranberries for this recipe there is no need to thaw them first.
To Freeze the Bars: Prepare the bars according to the recipe. After chilling the bars and cutting them into squares, place them on a parchment paper lined baking pan. Place the baking pan in the freezer and freeze the cut bars just until they are frozen (flash freeze). Then, remove the frozen bars and transfer them to a zip top freezer bag, layering them flat. Zip the bag, removing as much air as possible. Then, transfer the bag to the freezer.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 barAmount Per Serving: Calories: 205Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
rose says
I just found this recipe and would like to make it. How much almonds does it take to make 1/2 cup of almond meal?
Katie says
I don’t know, but you can purchase already ground almond meal from Bob’s Red Mill.
Missy says
Thank you for this recipe. Made them today and they are wonderful!
Miko's Girl says
I’m bookmarking these – they look delicious!
Celeste says
Laurie, I’ve made these with blueberries (my mom’s suggestion) and they were delightful!
I just pulled my fourth batch in a year out of the oven. Such a good recipe! I rarely make things multiple times (too excited to try out new recipes), but this one is a keeper.
Laurie says
I made these for a Thanksgiving treat. SO YUMMY! I loved the crust and I don’t mind the tartness of the cranberries, but it knocked the socks of my husband! 🙂
I found that after day three in the refrigerator they tasted the best. The SUPER tartness had subsided and didn’t over power the dessert.
I was wondering if you left the cranberries in the sugar mixture for a few days before hand if it would cut down on the tartness.??
Do you have any other suggestions on how to reduce the tartness?
Also, I loved the crust so much and I am wondering if any other fruits would work in the recipe???
Thanks!!
Vanderbilt Wife says
I will preface this with “I am 34 weeks pregnant,” but these make me want to eat my computer screen. YUM!! I love cranberry, too. They sounds divine.
Allysa says
These sound delicious! I want to make them for a get together with friends! Do you use salted butter or unsalted? Thanks for sharing!!!
Katie says
For this recipe I use whatever I have on hand.
Emily @ LaForce Be With You says
Just found your blog and I love it.. such great recipes to explore! I definitely want to make these!! Is there any substitute to almond meal if I have a friend allergic to nuts??
Katie says
Equal amount of ground oatmeal (just put the oatmeal in the food processor) or all purpose flour should work fine.
Katie @ goodLife {eats} says
Katherine – for me it's the perfect combo sweet/tart. I don't find them overly sugary and the tartness of the cranberries is still present.
Katherine says
How sweet are these?
Anonymous says
I have made this recipie three times now and it´s always such a hit. I love it!
haumea says
Wonderbars! I read this recipe over a couple times before I decided to make it. I have in my fridge almond meal my aunt gave me. I added a couple different things. I am not a cranberry person. I added Orange Zest and tangerine juice and 1/4 cup of marscapone just to bring that super tartness down. This is a yummy recipe and would be really with some vanilla frozen yogurt or vanilla bean gelato. Thank you.
Carrie says
These look really delicious. I've had a frozen bag of cranberries in my freezer since November. This is their destiny. 😀