Description
Delight in these festive Cranberry Bars topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Featuring a buttery, tender base studded with white baking chips, dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, these bars offer a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. Finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting enhanced by a hint of orange zest and sprinkled with more dried cranberries, they make a festive treat ideal for holiday gatherings or anytime you crave a fruity, creamy dessert bar.
Ingredients
Scale
Base:
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white baking chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Frosting:
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready while you prepare the batter.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes 5 to 7 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Gradually beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the sour cream and the almond and vanilla extracts until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agent and salt.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, beating until everything is just combined without overmixing.
- Fold in Chips, Cranberries, and Nuts: Gently fold in the white baking chips, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts to evenly distribute them throughout the batter.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Grease a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan and spread the batter evenly inside it to create a uniform layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack to set properly before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, butter, orange zest (if using), and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until the frosting reaches a smooth and spreadable consistency.
- Frost Bars: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the chopped dried cranberries on top and optionally add more orange zest for extra color and flavor.
- Cut and Store: Cut bars into squares or triangles. Refrigerate any leftovers to keep them fresh.
Notes
- Ensure eggs and sour cream are at room temperature for even mixing and better texture.
- Do not overmix the batter once flour is added to avoid tough bars.
- White baking chips can be substituted with white chocolate chips if preferred.
- Optional orange zest adds a bright citrus note; omit if desired.
- Store leftover bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and frosting texture.
- For a nut-free version, omit walnuts or substitute with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (based on 48 bars)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg