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Cranberry Bars

There is no way to describe these cranberry bars other than that they are heavenly and divine...and therefore the perfect treat to bring to your next Christmas gathering. The inspiration comes from a recipe that a sweet woman from church passed along to me. I wanted to make a spiced version for the holiday season, adding allspice to the cookie dough and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. I also used fresh-squeezed orange juice in place of the milk and added a bit more cream cheese to the frosting, making the most melt in your mouth creamsicle touch that pairs perfectly with the cranberries. The soft, sweet cookie dough paired with the tart cranberries and dreamy frosting creates pure magic that will have your loved ones ‘mmm’-ing and reaching for more.

Ingredients

Bars

  • 1½ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. all spice
  • ½ c. unsalted butter
  • 1½ c. organic cane sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 c. fresh cranberries (not frozen)

Frosting

  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • ½ c. unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 c. powdered sugar
  • juice from one large orange

Other

  • ground cinnamon, for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Stir the dry bar ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, all spice) in a medium size bowl to combine, set aside.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining bar ingredients, with the except of the cranberries, on high speed until smooth and light in color. Reduce the speed to low and slowly mix in the dry ingredients.
  • Gently stir in the cranberries and press the mixture into a greased and floured 9x13 pan.
  • Bake until the top and edges are a light golden brown, about 40 minutes.
  • While the bars cool, beat the frosting ingredients on high until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar last, a little at a time, to avoid splattering.
  • When the bars have cooled completely, top them with frosting and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Cut into bite-size pieces for serving.

Notes

  • To make the dough easier to press into the pan, lightly wet your fingers to keep it from sticking.
  • Depending on the size of your orange and how much frosting you like, you might end up with a little extra...just enough to enjoy with a spoon;)