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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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
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
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!
Cranberry Nut Bars
Equipment
- Glass Baking Dish 7x11
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
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
- 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
This recipe was originally published in December 2015.
Brenda Hagemann says
Delicious. Cranberry nut bars are easy to pack in a lunchbox as they travel and keep well.
Kathy says
Thanks, Brenda! These do travel well and my favorite part of these bars is they are even better the day after you make them!
Leslee says
Delicious, but I can only give a 3 star rating for a couple of reasons. The bars fall apart very easily. I did let them cool. Definitely must grease your pan because they stick. I might suggest trying them in a square cooking pan to give a slightly thicker cookie and a more uniform shape. Happy baking.
Fred G says
Great desert for this season
Jillian says
Love the addition of the toasted sliced almonds! These look divine!
Kathy says
Thanks, Jillian! The almonds do add extra crunch and flavor!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says
These look delicious - definitely want to give them a try!!
Kathy says
They are delicious! I hope you give them a try...you're gonna love 'em! 🙂
abra says
Love cranberries in baked goods! The tart pop is my favorite.
Kathy says
I agree!
Aish Das-Padihari says
In love with these pics. So yum
Kathy says
The pics are yum....but the real thing is truly amazing! 🙂
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says
they are look so tasty! simple recipe and not "too log list" of ingredients 🙂 love it.
Kathy says
Thanks! They are super simple to make 🙂
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
So sad that cranberries may 'go out of season' soon, but there will always be (I hope) the dried ones that I can get at Sprouts!
Kathy says
I agree! At least there are dried ones to keep us going the rest of the year!
Ashley says
I've still been buying the fresh cranberries too! These bars are just so pretty! So perfect for the holidays!
Kathy says
The colors are perfect for the holidays.
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Yes, cranberries are totally still in season! We should use them as much as possible. I am LOVING these cranberry bars, the shortbread crust, the almond topping. So perfect for the holidays!
Kathy says
They aren't only yummy, they are good for you too!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
Easy, pretty, and festive? Count me in! I love the color on these cranberry bars, Kathy!
Kathy says
Cranberries have the most amazing color.
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I wouldn't mind eating the whole tray full of these cranberry nut bars!
Kathy says
It's all about self control! 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
i love the shortbread crust!! yum!
Kathy says
The crust is delicious and super easy to make!
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
These bars looks like you put a lot of time and effort in them - love the bit about easy cleanup and prep. That's always the biggest battle, who's gonna clean the kitchen? And cranberries are so cheap right now. Love the silvered almonds on top for that pop!
Kathy says
I am always stuck cleaning the kitchen! Gotta love easy prep and few dishes!
David @ Spiced says
Haha...we were both channeling fresh cranberry love, Kathy! I'm thinking these bars sound totally delicious. I might need to get a batch going...cranberries will be on super sale in the grocery stores soon. Time to stock up, right? 🙂
Kathy says
Yes! Cranberries store really well in the freezer so we could enjoy them year round!
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
How gorgeous are these cranberry nut bars! Love that colour! Perfect treat for the holidays!
Kathy says
They are perfect for this time of year!
cheri says
Hi Kathy, I bet these are full of flavor, loving everything cranberry right now.
Kathy says
This is cranberry season!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Mmm I'm glad we're both feeling the cranberry love - these bars look so amazing!! Love that they only dirty one bowl 🙂
Kathy says
One dish baking is good!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
These look terrific and so tasty! I really enjoy cranberries a lot.
Kathy says
I know....cranberries are so good!