Cranberry Bars

Name: Cranberry Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1½ sticks unsalted butter; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon salt; 1⅛ cups granulated sugar; 3 cups cranberries; ¼ cup water; ¼ cup confectioners sugar

Buttery shortbread-style crust topped with a sweet-tart cranberry layer, finished with a dusting of confectioners sugar. These festive bars combine the perfect balance of crispy base and jammy fruit topping.

12 servings

1 hr 53 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1½ sticks unsalted butter
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•½ teaspoon salt
•1⅛ cups granulated sugar
•3 cups cranberries
•¼ cup water
•¼ cup confectioners sugar

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
5 min
2.
Line a 9-inch square baking pan with 2 crisscrossed sheets of foil, leaving an overhang on 2 opposite sides, then butter foil.
5 min
3.
Blend butter, flour, salt, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a food processor until mixture begins to clump together. Press into bottom of pan.
10 min
4.
Bake until pale golden and sides begin to pull away from pan, 25 to 30 minutes.
30 min
5.
While crust is baking, cook cranberries, remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar, and water in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries burst, 6 to 8 minutes.
8 min
6.
Pour cranberries over crust and bake until edge is golden, about 25 minutes.
25 min
7.
Sift confectioners sugar over top and cool completely in pan on a rack. Lift out of pan using foil overhang and cut into 12 squares, then sift more confectioners sugar over top.
30 min