Apple Cranberry Bars
This Apple Cranberry Bars recipe is a taste of autumn that you can enjoy all year round! These sweet, tart bars are the perfect 2-bite snack when you are on the run or just looking for a great-tasting treat!
If you are craving something chocolatey and sweet, these Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are a sure-fire hit!
These apple cranberry bars are a little sweet, a little tart, soft and chewy, and oh so good! The cranberries bring tartness and a taste reminiscent of fall and winter to the squares. If you are baking for the holidays or just as a treat for the family, this recipe is a must!
Why I Love This Recipe
- It’s a tasty sweet tart treat
- Has a wonderful shortbread crust
- Easy to make
- Great for a snack but elegant enough for guests
- Gives you the taste of fall/winter all year round
Ingredients for Cranberry Apple Bars
These Apple Cranberry Bars combine sweet apples and tart cranberries with a buttery crust for an easy fall dessert that’s perfect for the holidays.
Recipe Ingredients
Shortbread Crust:
Butter, soft – You can use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe. If you use unsalted then add some salt to make up for it.
Granulated sugar – Plain white sugar.
All-purpose flour – Use regular AP flour.
Apple Cranberry Layer:
Cranberries – Fresh or frozen; either will work. If using frozen, do not thaw.
Tart apples – Use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples. I like the apples to be peeled in this recipe.
Walnuts – Walnuts and apples just go together and add a nice crunch.
All-purpose flour – I have not tried making these gluten-free.
Butter – Use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe. Just adjust the salt accordingly.
Granulated sugar – Plain white sugar for sweetness.
Brown sugar – Adds a sweet taste with a hint of molasses.
Eggs – Always use large eggs in recipes, unless otherwise stated.
Cinnamon – Use a good-quality cinnamon; make sure it is fresh.
Almond extract – Adds a hint of nutty flavor. This extract really adds so much to the overall flavor of the bars.
Kosher salt – Salt brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.
Baking powder – This is the leavening agent you need.
Glaze:
Powdered sugar – A smooth, sweet texture for the glaze.
Milk – Just a small splash; it makes the glaze.
Almond extract – Adds a hint of nutty flavor.
How to Make Apple Cranberry Bars
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the pan with parchment paper.
For the shortbread crust, place butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat together for 2 minutes on medium speed.
Add flour and beat until well combined. The mixture will be crumbly at first but will come together.
Pat the dough into the bottom of an 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick spray. Prick all over with a fork and bake for 15 minutes. It will be a light golden-brown color.
In a large bowl, place the flour, melted butter, sugars, eggs, cinnamon, almond extract, salt, and baking powder, and beat together for 1 minute. The batter will be smooth with no lumps. Stir in apples, cranberries, and walnuts.
Pour over the crust and spread evenly.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. The filling will be set, and a toothpick will come out clean. Cool completely before glazing and cutting.
Making the Glaze
For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Add a little more milk if you want the glaze a little thinner. Be careful not to add too much liquid, or the glaze will not set.
Little Chef’s Secrets
- I like to use tart baking apples such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. These apples will hold their shape and bring a tartness that balances sweet dessert recipes.
- Keep your butter cold if you’re making a shortbread or crumb-style crust. Cold butter helps create a tender, crumbly texture.
- Don’t skip the thickener. Apples and cranberries release juices as they cook, so flour or cornstarch may be important for keeping the filling from becoming runny.
- Cut the apples evenly. Similar-sized pieces cook at approximately the same rate.
- Use parchment paper. Leave an overhang on two sides so you can easily lift the cooled bars from the pan.
- Cool completely. This is one of the easiest ways to get clean, attractive squares.
- Avoid Red Delicious or Gala; these have soft flesh that breaks down quickly under oven heat. They will result in a bland, grainy mush when cooked.
- To keep cranberry apple bars fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Make Them for Thanksgiving
Apple Cranberry Bars are an excellent alternative to traditional pie for Thanksgiving. You still get those familiar apple and cranberry flavors, but the bars are much easier to portion and serve.
They’re particularly useful for a large gathering because guests can grab a square without needing plates, forks, and pie servers.
Add them to a dessert table alongside pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cookies, and other Thanksgiving treats.
Perfect for Christmas Baking
The ruby-red cranberries give these bars a naturally festive appearance, making them a great addition to a Christmas dessert platter.
Cut them into smaller squares for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or dessert trays. A dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white icing makes them even more festive.
Pin it HERE!!
Pin it HERE!!
Apple Cranberry Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter soft, add a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cranberries fresh or frozen, do not thaw
- 1 cup tart apples peeled and chopped
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) salted butter, melted You can also use unsalted butter.
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the pan with parchment paper.
- For the shortbread crust, place butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat together for 2 minutes on medium speed. Add flour and beat until well combined. The mixture will be crumbly at first but will come together.
- Pat the dough into the bottom of an 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick spray. Prick all over with a fork and bake for 15 minutes. It will be a light golden-brown color.
- In a large bowl, place the flour, melted butter, sugars, eggs, cinnamon, almond extract, salt, and baking powder, and beat together for 1 minute. The batter will be smooth with no lumps. Stir in apples, cranberries, and walnuts.
- Pour over the crust and spread evenly.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. The filling will be set, and a toothpick will come out clean. Cool completely before glazing and cutting.
- For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Add a little more milk if you want the glaze a little thinner. Be careful not to add too much liquid, or the glaze will not set.
