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Home » Desserts » Cranberry Nut Bars

Published: Nov 25, 2020 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Cranberry Nut Bars

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A cranberry bar topped with sliced almonds on a white piece of parchment paper.

These cranberry nut bars are made with fresh cranberries and are given a bit of added crunch with sliced almonds.  The red festive color is perfect for the holidays!

A cookie bar with cranberries and topped with almonds.

These cranberry bars have a wonderful shortbread crust made with almonds in the crust and sliced almonds on top. Use fresh or frozen cranberries for the filling.

Three cranberry bars stacked on top of each other with a small piece of white paper between each bar.

I used just one bowl to make these bars.  Well, technically, just one food processor.  That's even better than one bowl.  

With the food processor you just put everything in and push pulse. It's that easy.  I did the crust first. Placed the shortbread crust into a baking dish and then used the same bowl, leftover crumbs and all, for the cranberry filling.  

Easy prep, easy cleanup!

A large slab of cranberry bars on a wooden cutting board.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Make the crust
Make the filling
Tips
More delicious holiday desserts
Cranberry Nut Bars

Key Ingredients

  • Cranberries - fresh or frozen. If using frozen, no need to thaw. Increase baking time by 5 minutes
  • Almonds - Use sliced almonds
  • Orange zest - One orange will give you enough zest for the filling
Butter, almonds, sugar and flour on a white board.
A display of cranberries, eggs, almonds, and an orange on a white surface.

Make the crust

  • Place flour, sugar, butter, almonds and salt in a food processor
  • Pulse until small crumbs
  • Pour mixture into a greased 9x13" baking dish and push down mixture with your hands or the bottom of a flat measuring cup
  • Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. It is okay if there is still some dry flour on shortbread crust after baking for the 10 minutes.
A food processor bowl filled with flour, butter and almonds.
A flour mixture in a food processor bowl.
Shortbread crust mixture in a baking dish.
A baked shortbread crust in a glass baking dish.

Make the filling

  • Using the same food processor bowl, add sugar, eggs, milk, orange peel, vanilla and cranberries.
  • Pulse until mixture is well combined and cranberries are finely chopped
  • Pour mixture over hot shortbread crust
  • Sprinkle sliced almonds on top and then sprinkle sugar on top of almonds (sugar is optional)
  • Return to oven and bake for 30 minutes
  • Allow bars to cool before slicing and serving
A food processor bowl with fresh cranberries, orange peel and an egg.
An unbaked dessert with cranberries and almonds.

Tips

  • Cut butter into small cubes before adding to food processor
  • Add cranberry filling while crust is still warm
  • Allow bars to fully cool before slicing
  • Store bars in an airtight container for up to four days
  • Bars are even more delicious served the day after they are made

More delicious holiday desserts

  • Cranberry Bundt Cake
  • Pecan Pie Bars
  • Walnut Tart
  • Cranberry Pecan Bars
Cranberry bars topped with sliced almonds on a wooden cutting board.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be certain to check out all my dessert recipes!

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    Ginger Cookies
  • A plate filled with red and white meringues.
    Peppermint Meringues
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A cookie bar with cranberries and topped with almonds.

Cranberry Nut Bars

Kathy
Tart cranberries with a shortbread crust topped with sliced almonds.
4.79 from 14 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20 Bars
Calories 185 kcal

Equipment

  • Glass Baking Dish 7x11
  • Food Processor
  • Zester
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 1 ¼ cups flour
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 Tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups whole cranberries
  • ¾ cup sliced almonds
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (for topping, optional)

Instructions
 

Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • In a food processor, put flour, sugar, butter, almonds and salt.
    1 ¼ cups flour, ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup butter, ½ cup sliced almonds, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Pulse until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is incorporated throughout.
  • Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Flatten dough with hands.
  • Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Filling

  • Meanwhile, in the same bowl, add sugar, eggs, milk, orange peel, vanilla, and cranberries.
    1 cup sugar, 2 whole eggs, 2 Tablespoons milk, 1 Tablespoon finely shredded orange peel, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups whole cranberries
  • Pulse until ingredients are mixed and cranberries are finely chopped.
  • Pour filling over hot crust. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top and sprinkle with sugar (optional)
    ¾ cup sliced almonds, 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Return to oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Let cool before slicing.

Notes

Tips
  • Cut butter into small cubes before adding to food processor
  • Add cranberry filling while crust is still warm
  • Allow bars to fully cool before slicing
  • Store bars in an airtight container for up to four days
  • Bars are even more delicious served the day after they are made

    Nutritional Disclaimer:

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1BarCalories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 71mgPotassium: 66mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 148IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Cranberry Almond Bars, cranberry bars, cranberry desserts, fresh cranberry recipes
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

    This recipe was originally published in December 2015.

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    Comments

    1. David @ Spiced says

      November 29, 2020 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      What a great use of the food processor! Anytime I can create a tasty dessert with fewer dishes to clean, then I am all in. And I've been on a huge cranberry kick this year. These bars sound like a great treat for sure!

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        November 30, 2020 at 4:39 am

        Easy and delicious!

        Reply
    2. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      November 25, 2020 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      These look wonderful, Kathy! Love the shortbread crust - my fave!! Perfect for the holidays!

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        November 25, 2020 at 9:12 am

        Thanks, Dawn! I love cranberries this time of year and I think they are perfect for the holidays!

        Reply
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