Cranberry Crumble Bars

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Cranberry Crumble Bars - Simple crumb bars made with fresh cranberries and a buttery, flaky crust, topped with oatmeal crumble and a sweet white chocolate glaze.

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We've made it to December, and this crazy 2020 rollercoaster ride will soon be coming to an end. I'm fairly certain we're all looking forward to ringing in a year of new beginnings.

But you know what, let's not rush it. Let's try and enjoy this last month of the year and make the most of the holiday season.

Today we're getting into the festive holiday spirit and making Cranberry Crumble Bars! These dessert bars are made with fresh cranberries and a buttery, flaky crust, topped with oatmeal crumble and a sweet white chocolate glaze. 

They're the perfect addition to a holiday "sweets" platter!

Let's get baking!

HOW TO MAKE CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS

To make these easy crumble bars, you'll need:

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Salt 
  • Cinnamon
  • Oatmeal
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Fresh or frozen cranberries
  • Cornstarch
  • Orange zest
  • Orange juice
  • White chocolate

Start by preheating the oven to 350º Fahrenheit. 

Grab a mixing bowl and combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and oatmeal in a large glass mixing bowl

Whisk in the oatmeal.

Adding oatmeal to crumb mixture

Use a fork to cut in the cubed butter until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbles.

butter pats in a bowl with a crumb mixture

Set the bowl aside and in another small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla.

Egg, milk and vanilla in a glass bowl

Pour the liquid ingredients over the flour mixture.

Adding wet ingredients to dry crust ingredients in glass bowl

Whisk it all together until it resembles wet sand. Don't forget to reserve 2 cups for the topping!

mixed crust in bowl for crumble bars

Press the remaining mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.

Crust pressed into the bottom of a glass baking dish

Next, combine the ingredients for the cranberry filling in a medium mixing bowl. 

cranberries and sugar in glass bowl

Spread the mixture evenly over the crust.

Cranberry crumble bars before going into oven

Then, evenly sprinkle the remaining topping over cranberries (photo of this step not included).

Bake the bars for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Cranberry bars topped with oatmeal crumble

Allow to cool, then drizzle melted white chocolate over the top of the bars and serve.

Drizzling icing on cranberry bars

CAN YOU USE FROZEN CRANBERRIES FOR THESE BARS?

Yes, you can use frozen cranberries but I recommend allowing the frozen berries to thaw for a bit before using them to make the filling.

Icing drizzled on cranberry bars in pan

WHAT OTHER FRUITS COULD BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THESE BARS?

There's a chance not everyone in your family loves cranberries. I get that.

You could always try cherries, raspberries or blueberries!

Spatula holding up a cranberry bar

HOW SHOULD THE CRUMBLE BARS BE STORED?

The bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or they can be frozen for up to six months or so.

stack of cranberry crumble bars

WHAT SHOULD I TOP CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS WITH?

I love the icing drizzle with these bars, but if you really want to "do it up," grab a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream and plop them on top!

Fork with a piece of a cranberry bar

READY FOR MORE DESSERT IDEAS?

stack of cranberry crumble bars

Cranberry Crumble Bars

Simple crumb bars made with fresh cranberries and a buttery, flaky crust, topped with oatmeal crumble and a sweet white chocolate glaze.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 264kcal
Author: Sara
adjust servings: 16 bars

Ingredients

For the Crust and Topping:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup oatmeal
  • 1 cup butter (cold and cut into cubes)
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

For the Cranberry Filling:

  • 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

For the Icing:

  • 2 tablespoons white chocolate (melted)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350º Fahrenheit.
  • Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and oatmeal in a large mixing bowl.
  • Using a fork, cut in the cubed butter until mixture resembles pea-sized crumbles.
  • In a small bowl, whisk egg, milk, and vanilla together.
  • Pour liquid ingredients over the flour mixture.
  • Whisk together until it resembles wet sand. Reserve 2 cups for topping.
  • Press remaining mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
  • Combine ingredients for cranberry filling in a medium mixing bowl. Spread evenly over crust.
  • Evenly sprinkle remaining topping over cranberries.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow bars to cool.

For the Icing:

  • Drizzle melted white chocolate over top of bars and serve.

Notes

Balance Sweetness: Cranberries bring tartness to the recipe, so adjust the sweetness of the crumble topping and filling accordingly to achieve a harmonious balance of flavors.
Texture Matters: Ensure the crumble topping is crispy and the cranberry filling is thickened to prevent the bars from becoming soggy. A good texture contrast adds to the overall enjoyment.
Experiment with Spices: Enhance the flavor profile by adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the crumble topping. These aromatic spices can complement the tartness of the cranberries beautifully.

Nutrition

Serving: 18g | Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
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