Name: Easy Cranberry Crumble Bars
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 5 h
Yield: 12 to 16 bars
Ingredients: For the Base and Crumble Topping:; 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free cup-for-cup blend); 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, very cold, cubed; 1 large egg; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; Optional: Pinch of ground cinnamon (for crust); For the Cranberry Filling:; 3 cups (340g) fresh or frozen cranberries; ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar (adjust to taste); ¼ cup (60ml) water; 1 tbsp fresh orange zest (or lemon zest); 2 tbsp fresh orange juice; 2 tbsp cornstarch; 2 tbsp cold water (for slurry); Optional: ¼ tsp ground cinnamon or pinch of ground ginger (for filling)

Cranberry Crumble Bars are more than just a dessert; they are a delightful celebration of flavors and textures that instantly evoke a sense of warmth and home. Have you ever craved that perfect balance of tangy fruit and a rich, buttery crust that simply melts in your mouth? Look no further!

I find immense joy in creating these bars, as they bring together the vibrant tartness of fresh cranberries with a comforting, oat-laden crumble topping, all nestled upon a tender, golden shortbread base. While the concept of a fruit crumble dates back centuries, providing a beloved, rustic dessert particularly popular in British cuisine, the convenience of baking it into a bar form has made it an indispensable treat for modern bakers. It’s a comforting classic reimagined for easy enjoyment.

People absolutely adore this dish for countless reasons. Beyond their undeniable deliciousness—that harmonious interplay of sweet and sour, soft and crunchy—these bars are incredibly versatile. They are perfect for holiday gatherings, a thoughtful gift for friends, a delightful accompaniment to your morning coffee, or simply a satisfying afternoon snack. Preparing your own batch of Cranberry Crumble Bars is a truly rewarding experience, promising to fill your home with an irresistible aroma and your kitchen with smiles.

Ingredients:

Creating these delightful Cranberry Crumble Bars is a truly rewarding experience, and having all your ingredients prepped and ready will make the process smooth and enjoyable. Here’s everything you’ll need to bring these festive treats to life:

For the Base and Crumble Topping:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour: I always recommend sifting your flour for a lighter, airier texture in your crumble.
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar: Provides the perfect touch of sweetness to balance the tart cranberries.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Helps give the base a slight lift and tender texture.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Crucial for enhancing all the other flavors and cutting through sweetness.
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, very cold and cut into ½-inch cubes: Cold butter is absolutely essential for achieving that distinct crumbly texture. Don’t be tempted to use softened butter!
- 1 large egg: Acts as a binder for the base, ensuring it holds together beautifully.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract: Adds a wonderful aromatic warmth to the whole bar.
For the Cranberry Filling:
- 3 cups (340g) fresh or frozen cranberries: If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them first!
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar: Balances the natural tartness of the cranberries. You can adjust this slightly to your preference.
- ¼ cup (60ml) water: Helps the cranberries break down and simmer into a jammy consistency.
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest: A brilliant touch that brightens the entire filling and complements the cranberries beautifully.
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice: Enhances the citrus notes from the zest.
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch: Used to thicken the filling to a luscious, spreadable consistency.
- 2 tablespoons cold water (for cornstarch slurry): To mix with the cornstarch before adding to the hot filling, preventing lumps.
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon or a pinch of ground ginger: For an extra layer of warm spice, especially lovely during colder months.

Preparing the Cranberry Filling

The heart of our Cranberry Crumble Bars lies in this vibrant, sweet-tart filling. Taking the time to prepare it properly ensures a delicious burst of flavor in every bite. It’s important to make this first so it has ample time to cool, preventing it from making your crust soggy.

Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the 3 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest, and 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice. If you’re adding a touch of spice, now is the time to stir in your optional ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon or a pinch of ground ginger. Give everything a good stir to ensure the sugar is distributed among the berries.
Simmer Gently: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. As it heats up, you’ll notice the cranberries starting to soften and pop, releasing their beautiful juices. This process typically takes about 8 to 10 minutes. Continue to simmer until most of the cranberries have burst and the mixture begins to look jammy and slightly thickened. The goal here isn’t a completely smooth sauce, but rather a rustic filling with some intact cranberry pieces for texture.
Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: While the cranberries are simmering, in a small separate bowl, whisk together the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until a smooth slurry forms. This slurry is key to thickening our filling to the perfect consistency without any lumps.
Thicken the Filling: Once the cranberry mixture has simmered and thickened slightly on its own, pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan, whisking continuously. Keep stirring for another 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat. You’ll observe the filling transforming, becoming noticeably thicker and glossy. It should coat the back of a spoon. This thickening ensures your bars will hold together beautifully and not be too runny.
Cool Completely: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Transfer the cranberry filling to a heatproof bowl or shallow dish. It’s absolutely crucial for the filling to cool down completely before you spread it over the base. If you spread hot filling on the raw dough, it can make the base soggy and affect the texture of your finished Cranberry Crumble Bars. You can speed up this process by placing it in the refrigerator for about 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or just let it sit at room temperature for an hour or so. We want it cool to the touch.

Making the Base and Crumble Topping

This is where the magic of the “crumble” truly comes to life! The base and topping for these Cranberry Crumble Bars use the same dough, making the process incredibly efficient. The key to that perfect crumbly texture is using very cold butter and not overworking the dough.

Preheat and Prepare: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Then, prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan. I like to line mine with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides. This creates “handles” that make it incredibly easy to lift the entire batch of bars out of the pan once they’re baked and cooled, preventing any sticking and ensuring a clean cut. Lightly grease the exposed sides of the pan or the parchment paper itself.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. I find that a good whisk ensures everything is evenly distributed, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients. This dry mixture forms the backbone of both our buttery base and our delightful crumble topping for these Cranberry Crumble Bars.
Cut in the Cold Butter: Now comes the crucial step for that signature crumbly texture! Add the 1 cup (226g) of very cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, two forks, or even your fingertips (working quickly so the butter doesn’t get too warm), cut the butter into the flour mixture. You want to work until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, with some pieces of butter still visible, ranging in size from small peas to tiny oat flakes. Do not overmix! The visible butter pieces are what create pockets of steam during baking, leading to a wonderfully tender and flaky crumble.
Add Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Pour this egg mixture over the butter-flour mixture. Using a fork or your hands, gently mix until the wet ingredients are just incorporated and the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix here either; we want to avoid developing too much gluten, which can lead to a tough base. The dough will be somewhat crumbly but should hold together when pressed.
Reserve Crumble Topping: Take out about 1 to 1 ½ cups of this dough mixture and set it aside in a separate bowl. This portion will become our fantastic crumble topping, sprinkled generously over the cranberry filling later.
Press the Base: Transfer the remaining dough mixture to your prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Using your fingertips or the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass, firmly and evenly press the dough into the bottom of the pan to form the base. Make sure it reaches all the way to the edges and forms a relatively even layer. A well-compacted base is essential for supporting the filling and ensuring the bars hold their shape. This forms the sturdy foundation for your delicious Cranberry Crumble Bars.

Assembling the Cranberry Crumble Bars

With our base pressed and our filling cooled, we’re just moments away from baking these incredible Cranberry Crumble Bars. Assembly is quick and easy, but each step contributes to the final perfect texture and appearance.

Spread the Cranberry Filling: Carefully spoon the completely cooled cranberry filling over the pressed crust in the baking pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the filling evenly from edge to edge. It’s crucial that the filling is cool; if it’s warm, it can start to melt the butter in the crust, leading to a less distinct and potentially soggy base. We want a beautiful, even layer of that vibrant cranberry goodness.
Add the Crumble Topping: Now, take the reserved 1 to 1 ½ cups of crumble mixture that you set aside earlier. Generously sprinkle this crumbly goodness evenly over the cranberry filling. You can gently break apart any larger clumps as you sprinkle to ensure a nice, uniform layer of topping. This topping will bake up golden brown and wonderfully crisp, providing the perfect textural contrast to the soft filling and tender base of our Cranberry Crumble Bars.

Baking the Cranberry Crumble Bars

The baking process is where all our hard work comes together, transforming simple ingredients into golden, bubbling, fragrant Cranberry Crumble Bars. Patience and attention to detail during this stage will be richly rewarded.

Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the assembled baking pan into your preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. The exact baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them. You’re looking for a beautiful transformation: the crumble topping should turn a lovely golden brown, the cranberry filling should be visibly bubbling around the edges, and the entire kitchen should be filled with an irresistible aroma.
Check for Doneness: To ensure they are perfectly baked, you might notice the edges of the base looking set and lightly golden. If you gently jiggle the pan, the center of the filling should appear mostly set, with only a slight wobble. Avoid overbaking, as this can dry out the base and make the topping too hard. We want that perfect balance of tender crust, jammy filling, and crisp topping.
Remove from Oven: Once they’ve reached that glorious golden-brown state, carefully remove the pan from the oven. The bars will still be quite soft and hot, and the filling will be very bubbly – resist the urge to cut into them just yet!

Cooling and Serving

This final phase is arguably the most important for achieving perfectly structured Cranberry Crumble Bars. While it requires patience, properly cooling your bars is critical for clean cuts and a stable texture.

The Critical Cool Down: Transfer the hot baking pan to a wire rack. This is where patience becomes a virtue! You absolutely must allow the Cranberry Crumble Bars to cool completely in the pan before attempting to cut them. This means letting them sit for at least 2 to 3 hours at room temperature, or even better, chilling them in the refrigerator for an hour or two once they’ve cooled sufficiently on the counter. During this cooling period, the cranberry filling will fully set, and the base and crumble will firm up, ensuring that your bars hold their shape beautifully when cut. Attempting to cut them while warm will result in a messy, crumbly disaster, as the filling will still be too loose and the crust too fragile.
Lift and Cut: Once fully cooled and firm, use the parchment paper overhang “handles” to carefully lift the entire slab of Cranberry Crumble Bars out of the baking pan and onto a clean cutting board.
Slice into Bars: Using a sharp knife, trim off any uneven edges (chef’s treat!) and then cut the large slab into your desired bar size. I typically go for 12 to 16 bars, depending on how generous I’m feeling. A warm knife (wiped clean between cuts) can help achieve extra-clean edges, especially if the filling is particularly sticky.
Serve and Enjoy: These Cranberry Crumble Bars are fantastic served at room temperature. They make a wonderful snack, a delightful dessert, or a lovely addition to any holiday platter. You can serve them as-is, or for an extra special treat, consider a dollop of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving.

Tips and Variations for Your Perfect Cranberry Crumble Bars

One of the joys of baking is the ability to customize and experiment, and these Cranberry Crumble Bars are incredibly versatile! Here are some of my favorite tips and variations to make them truly your own:

Elevating the Flavor Profile:

Spice it Up: Don’t hesitate to play with spices! Beyond cinnamon and ginger in the filling, you could add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the crumble topping for an extra layer of warmth, especially during the colder months. A tiny hint of cardamom can also be surprisingly delightful with cranberries.
Citrus Zest Magic: While I’ve included orange zest in the filling, feel free to experiment with other citrus. Lemon zest or even lime zest can offer a brighter, tangier counterpoint to the cranberries, adding another dimension of flavor to your Cranberry Crumble Bars. You could even add a little extra zest to the crumble mixture itself.
Nutty Crunch: For added texture and flavor, finely chop about ½ cup of pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds and mix them into the crumble topping before sprinkling it over the filling. The nuts will toast beautifully during baking, adding a fantastic crunch and depth of flavor.
Vanilla Bean Paste: Instead of vanilla extract, consider using an equal amount of vanilla bean paste in the base. You’ll get those beautiful vanilla specks and an even more intense vanilla aroma, truly elevating your Cranberry Crumble Bars.

Fruitful Variations:

Berry Bliss: While cranberries are the star here, this recipe is incredibly adaptable to other fruits. Try swapping half or all of the cranberries for fresh or frozen raspberries, blueberries, or a mixed berry blend. Adjust the sugar slightly depending on the sweetness of your chosen fruit.
Apple-Cranberry Fusion: For a heartier, more autumnal twist, you can dice one medium apple (like a Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) and add it to the cranberry filling mixture. The apples will soften and blend beautifully with the cranberries, offering a different textural experience in your Cranberry Crumble Bars.

Garnishing and Presentation:

Simple Glaze: For a touch of elegance and extra sweetness, whisk together ½ cup of powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons of milk or orange juice until smooth. Drizzle this simple glaze over the cooled bars before serving. It adds a lovely visual appeal and a delicate sweetness.
Fresh Mint: A small sprig of fresh mint placed alongside each bar on a serving platter can add a beautiful pop of color and a fresh aroma, especially when serving them during the holidays.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips:

Storage: Once completely cooled, store your Cranberry Crumble Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is very warm, or if you prefer them slightly firmer, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just bring them back to room temperature for optimal flavor.
Freezing: These bars freeze wonderfully! Once baked and completely cooled, cut them into individual bars. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer the frozen bars to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, separated by parchment paper, for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature or gently warm them in the oven for a fresh-baked feel.
Make-Ahead Components: You can prepare the cranberry filling a day or two in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This allows you to assemble and bake the bars more quickly on the day you plan to serve them. You can also prepare the dry ingredients for the crumble base and topping ahead of time, storing them in an airtight container, and then cut in the butter just before you’re ready to bake.

Conclusion:

So, as we wrap up our journey with this incredible recipe, I truly hope you’re feeling as excited as I am about what we’ve just created together. These aren’t just any ordinary baked goods; they are a delightful symphony of flavors and textures that truly stand out. What makes these Cranberry Crum extractble Bars a non-negotiable addition to your baking repertoire, you ask? Well, for starters, there’s that perfect balance of sweet and tart – the juicy, vibrant cranberries bursting through the rich, buttery crumble. It’s a flavor profile that’s both comforting and exhilarating, a true testament to the simple magic of good ingredients coming together. Beyond taste, the texture is simply divine: a sturdy yet tender base, a gooey, fruit-filled center, and a wonderfully crisp, golden crumble topping that provides just the right amount of crunch. It’s a textural masterpiece that will have everyone reaching for a second, or even a third, piece.

But it’s not just about the taste and texture. This recipe is also remarkably forgiving and approachable, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the world of homemade treats, you’ll find joy in the process and pride in the stunning results. The ease with which these come together means you can whip up a batch for a spontaneous gathering, a thoughtful gift, or simply to treat yourself to something truly special without spending hours in the kitchen. They are truly versatile, adapting beautifully to different occasions and cravings, and proving themselves to be much more than just a dessert; they are an experience, a little slice of homemade happiness.

Elevate Your Experience: Serving Suggestions & Creative Variations

Now, while these bars are absolutely phenomenal enjoyed straight from the pan, perhaps still warm with that intoxicating aroma filling your kitchen, let’s explore how you can elevate them even further or customize them to your heart’s desire. For a truly indulgent experience, I highly recommend serving them warm with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream melting into the warm, fruity bar is a sensory delight that is hard to beat. Alternatively, a dollop of freshly whipped cream, perhaps infused with a hint of orange zest or a splash of vanilla extract, would also be magnificent. For a more sophisticated dessert, consider a drizzle of a simple caramel sauce or a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving.

But why stop there? The beauty of a crumble bar recipe lies in its adaptability. While we’ve championed cranberries here, feel free to experiment with other fruits. Imagine the vibrancy of raspberry or blueberry crumble bars, the autumnal warmth of apple or pear, or even a mixed berry concoction. You could also introduce different spices into the crumble topping – a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a hint of cardamom could add another layer of complexity. For those who love nuts, a handful of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds mixed into the crumble would provide an extra textural dimension and nutty flavor. Don’t be afraid to play around with the crust too; a tablespoon of shredded coconut or some rolled oats could add a delightful chewiness and depth. These variations ensure that your bars can evolve with your mood, the season, or whatever fruits you have on hand, always delivering a fresh and exciting experience.

Your Turn: Bake, Share, & Inspire!

So, what are you waiting for? I genuinely believe that these bars are destined to become a new favorite in your home, a go-to recipe that you’ll turn to again and again. There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating something so delicious from scratch, and I promise you, the smiles and compliments you’ll receive will make every minute worthwhile. Don’t let this recipe just be another page in your browser; take the plunge, gather your ingredients, and immerse yourself in the joyful process of baking. You’ll be so glad you did!

Once you’ve experienced the sheer deliciousness of these bars, I would absolutely love to hear about it! Your experiences, your triumphs, and even your little baking adventures are what make this community so vibrant and inspiring. Please, take a moment to share your thoughts, your photos, or any creative variations you came up with. Did you serve them with a special topping? Did you swap out the cranberries for something else? Your feedback not only brightens my day but also helps fellow bakers in their own culinary journeys. You can leave a comment below, or share your creations on social media. I’m always so thrilled to see your masterpieces. Let’s celebrate the joy of homemade treats together!