Cranberry Orange Bars

These cranberry orange bars are the perfect holiday treat! I love them especially because they are great through fall and winter. Picture cranberry sauce meeting shortbread & you have these delicious bars. Also, if you are looking for a different type of dessert for your cookie exchange or to bring to a loved one’s house over the holidays, these are perfect!

Cranberry Orange Bars

Crust/Crumble

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

2.5 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Zest of 2 oranges 

Filling

12oz fresh cranberries 

Juice of 2 oranges 

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp vanilla

Dash of cinnamon 

Preheat oven to 350 & begin with crust/crumble mixture. In a stand mixture or bowl with a stand mixer, cream butter, sugar & vanilla together. Mix dry ingredients together then add to the butter mixture until a crumbley texture forms. Take half of the mixture and press into a parchment lined 9x9 dish. Poke some holes with a fork into the crust & par bake it for 15 minutes while you make the filling. Mix all filling ingredients together in a pan and cook down until a jam like texture. Remove crust from oven & let cool for a few minutes. Pour the cooled filling onto the crust, take second half of crust/crumble mixture & crumble it all over the top. Put back into the preheated oven and cook for another 30 minutes. Allow bars to fully cool & set before removing & slicing to serve.