Oatmeal Crumble Cranberry Bars
These mouthwatering jammy cranberry bars are as easy to make as counting to 3! Bursting with the vibrant and festive hue of cranberries, these bars are sure to add a pop of color to any holiday dessert spread. Trust me when I say that you might want to consider doubling the ingredients and using a bigger 9x13 baking pan, or even making this recipe twice, because these delightful treats will disappear faster than Santa's cookies on Christmas Eve!
I always make these at least once during the holiday season because they are simply irresistible. The aroma of these freshly baked dessert bars wafts through the house, beckoning everyone to gather around the kitchen. With each bite, flavors from the tart cranberries, butter, and brown sugar dance on your taste buds, bringing holiday cheer to your soul. These dessert bars have the perfect balance of moistness and chewiness, making them a delightful, indulgent treat that you won't be able to resist. Even my dad, who is notorious for his discerning palate, can't resist the temptation and wholeheartedly approves of these bars. Watching him savor every bite, I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and joy, knowing that my dessert bars have met his high standards and brought a smile to his face. Moments like these make the holiday season so special and memorable, creating lasting memories that warm the heart for years to come.
These scrumptious bars, bursting with festive flavors, consistently claim the top spot on my website during the merry season of Christmas. Don't forget to share your culinary masterpiece on social media by tagging me @honeybeedishin for a chance to spread the holiday cheer, or save it for later on your Pinterest boards!
Oatmeal Crumble Cranberry Bars
Ingredients
For the base:
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup quick or old-fashioned oats
½ cup unsalted butter, cold & cubed
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
For the fruit layer:
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons sugar
Splash of water
For the top crumble:
2 tablespoons flour
⅓ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, cold & cubed
Instructions
Whisk the flour, brown sugar, oats, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, combine the butter with the mixture until the mixture resembles crumbs. With a spoon, press the base into a greased 8x8 pan.
In a medium bowl, wet and toss the cranberries with a splash of water (this is to get the sugar to stick!). Next, add the sugar and toss once more until completely coated. Add cranberry layer to the pan.
For the top crumble, combine the flour, brown sugar, & cinnamon in a small bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut the 2 tablespoons of butter into mixture. Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the cranberry layer.
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. Cool for 1-2 hours, cut into bars, and enjoy!