Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a dessert that's about to become your new obsession! These Oven Baked Orange Cranberry Bars are the perfect blend of zesty citrus and tart cranberries, nestled on a buttery, crumbly base that will make your mouth water. Whether you're looking for a crowd-pleasing treat or a delightful afternoon snack, these bars are guaranteed to elevate your baking game and impress even the most discerning dessert lovers.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 16 bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to hang over the sides for easy removal.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly to ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Pour the melted butter into the dry ingredient mixture. Stir until a crumbly dough forms that holds together when pressed.
- Reserve about ½ cup of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared baking pan to create a compact base.
- In a separate bowl, mix the fresh cranberries with orange zest and orange juice. Gently toss to coat the cranberries and release their flavors.
- Spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the pressed crumb base, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the top of the cranberries, creating a rustic, crumbly topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cranberry filling is bubbling slightly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour. The bars will firm up as they cool.
- Using the overhanging parchment paper, lift the bars out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 16 equal squares.
- Serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tips
- Use fresh cranberries when possible for the brightest flavor, but frozen works just as well if fresh aren't in season.
- Make sure to zest the orange before juicing it to maximize flavor extraction.
- Don't overmix the crumb base - you want it to be just combined and slightly crumbly.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting to ensure clean, neat squares.
- For an extra touch of elegance, dust the bars with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar before serving.
- These bars can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator, making them perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests.
- For a more intense orange flavor, add a teaspoon of orange extract to the cranberry mixture.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 120kcal
Carbohydrates: 15g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 20mg
