Cranberry Lemon Bars
User Reviews
5
105 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
1 hr
-
Cook Time
2 hrs
-
Total Time
3 hrs
-
Servings
16 squares
-
Calories
262 kcal
Cranberry Lemon Bars
Report
Cranberry Lemon Bars combine a tangy lemon curd layer with a tart, smooth cranberry filling and a buttery lemon shortbread crust. The cranberry layer is made from simmered cranberries and sugar until completely broken down, giving a jam-like texture. The lemon shortbread crust adds a crumbly, slightly sweet base with fresh lemon zest enhancing the citrus notes. Topped with a luscious lemon custard layer, these bars balance tart and sweet flavors while providing a pleasing contrast between creamy and crumbly textures, ideal for dessert or a festive treat during citrus season.
Description
The Cranberry Lemon Bars recipe features three distinct layers: a cranberry sauce made from fresh or frozen berries simmered until fully broken down, a lemon shortbread crust that blends powdered and granulated sugars with lemon zest and cold butter for a tender, crumbly base, and a rich lemon custard layer combining fresh lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and vanilla for bright citrus flavor. The cranberry layer is cooked slowly to dissolve all fruit pieces into a smooth layer, while the crust bakes to a golden finish before the lemon topping is added and baked again. The resulting bars present a tart and sweet balance, with the soft lemon curd sitting atop a firm yet tender crust and a subtly textured cranberry middle. These bars could be served chilled for a refreshing dessert or snack, especially when fresh lemons and cranberries are in season. The recipe can be adjusted for gluten-free needs by substituting almond and coconut flours in the crust and thickening the custard with tapioca starch or coconut flour as needed.
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Ingredients
Cranberry Layer
- 8 ounces Cranberry do not thaw, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup water
- 6 tablespoons sugar white or cane sugar
Lemon Shortbread Crust
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon about 1 medium lemon, zest first then squeeze for lemon layer, zest
- ½ cup granulated sugar I use all-natural cane sugar
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter cubed, cold
Lemon Layer
- ⅔ cup lemon juice from about 4 medium lemons, fresh
- 1 ¼ cups sugar I use cane sugar*
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 egg lightly beaten
Instructions
- Make Cranberry Layer**
- Place water, cranberries, and 6 tablespoons of sugar in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, simmering, stirring occasionally, until cranberries start to burst. About 15 minutes.
- Continue to simmer, stirring and breaking up any whole cranberries - a wooden spoon works great for this. Cook until cranberries are completely broken down, with no whole pieces remaining, about another 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cooling for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Lemon Shortbread Crust
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat pan and parchment with cooking spray.
- In a medium-large mixing bowl, stir together 1 ⅓ cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, powdered sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, and lemon zest until combined. Mix in butter cubes, using a pastry cutter or your fingers (you may also do this step in a food processor). Once the mixture looks like sandy crumbs that stick together when pinched, press into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown, remove and allow to cool slightly, about 20-30 minutes.
- Once cooled, spread the cooled cranberry mixture over the crust, chill for 30 minutes, meanwhile make the lemon layer.
- Lemon Layer
- In a medium-large mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar, ⅓ cup flour and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add lightly beaten eggs to the mixture, whisking until combined, frothy and lighter in color. Set aside until ready to use.
- Once the cranberry layer has chilled on the crust, remove from the fridge and give the lemon layer once last good stir, pour evenly over the top of the cranberry mixture. Bake in a 350 degree oven 40-45 minutes until the center is set, it may jiggle slightly. Remove from oven, allowing to cool completely on a wire rack.
- For best results, once cooled, chill in fridge for 12 hours before slicing, this will allow time for the layers to settle and firm up.
- Using the parchment paper to lift the bars from the pan, place on a cutting board and cut into 9, 12 or 16 squares. Sprinkle if desired with powdered sugar before serving. These are also beautiful served with a few sugared cranberries.
- StorageStore these cranberry lemon bars in an airtight container in a single layer, or lay a piece of parchment between layers. They will keep well for up to 7 days.
- TO FREEZE: Make sure they are cooled completely first, place on parchment paper and then on pan and flash freeze for one hour until firm. Then wrap well in plastic wrap and again in foil or place in an airtight baggie. Freeze up to 3 months, thaw in fridge overnight.
- Doubling the recipe | Double ingredients and bake in 9x13 inch pan, baking 5-10 minutes longer covering with foil if browning too much.
Equipments used:
Notes
- Use all-natural cane sugar thoroughly whisked to avoid grit in the lemon layer.
- Leftover cranberry sauce can substitute for the cranberry layer; ensure it is well stirred and about 1 cup is used.
- For gluten-free bars, replace flour in the crust with almond and coconut flours and thicken the lemon layer with tapioca starch or coconut flour.
- Baking times may be extended by 5-10 minutes if doubling the recipe, covering with foil to prevent over-browning.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1square
Calories
262kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Trans Fat
0.4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
74mg
(25%)
Sodium
162mg
(7%)
Potassium
60mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
29g
(58%)
Vitamin A
351IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Calcium
17mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16squares
Amount Per Serving
Calories 262 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1square | |
| Calories | 262kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 74mg | 25% |
| Sodium | 162mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 60mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 29g | 58% |
| Vitamin A | 351IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
105 reviews
Excellent
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