Description
Bright and tangy cranberry lemon bars featuring a buttery shortbread crust, a tart cranberry layer, and a creamy lemon topping, optionally dusted with powdered sugar.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups fresh cranberries (12 oz)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar (cranberry layer)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt (cranberry layer)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (shortbread crust)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (crust)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (crust)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from 1 large lemon)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted (1 ½ sticks)
- 5 large eggs, room temperature (lemon layer)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (lemon layer)
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour (lemon layer)
- ¾ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (3–4 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (lemon layer)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×9-inch pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper.
- Make cranberry layer: combine cranberries, water, sugar, and salt in saucepan over medium heat. Cook 8–10 minutes until jam-like. Cool.
- Prepare shortbread crust: whisk flour, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. Mix melted butter and vanilla, combine with dry ingredients. Press into pan, poke holes with fork. Bake 18–20 minutes until slightly golden. Cool 30 minutes.
- Make lemon layer: lightly whisk eggs with lemon juice. Combine flour, lemon zest, sugar, and salt, then mix into eggs. Strain through mesh sieve.
- Assemble: spread cranberry layer over crust, pour lemon mixture evenly over cranberries.
- Bake 35–40 minutes until edges slightly brown and center jiggles slightly. Cool 30–60 minutes.
- Lift bars using parchment paper, cut into 12–16 squares. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
Notes
- Substitute orange juice for part of lemon juice for sweeter citrus flavor.
- Add finely chopped pistachios on top for crunch.
- Frozen cranberries can be used; thaw before cooking.
- Drizzle a light lemon glaze for extra sweetness.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make bars gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55–60 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Dessert
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
