These cranberry lemon bars are an all time favorite dessert bar. A sweet vanilla bar that is studded with fresh cranberries and a citrus lemon twist.
A cranberry dessert that will please a crowd with a single bite. If you are a fan of cranberries you have to try these perfect cranberry bars.
Also make sure to fry my lemon bars, they are always a hit with the family. You might also enjoy these blueberry lemon crumble bars, key lime bars, or learn how to can lemons.
This Cranberry Lemon Bars Recipe Is…
- Made from scratch
- Make ahead dessert
- Can use fresh or frozen cranberries
- Freezer friendly
- Popular dessert bar recipe
How to Make Cranberry Lemon Bars
Full steps along with measurements for these cranberry lemon bars are in the printable recipe card below. This is a quick walk through.
- Preheat the oven and grease your baking dish and set aside.
- Next you will mix up the wet ingredients in a mixer. Once well combined, move to the next step.
- Now begin adding in the dry ingredients, mixing till combined.
- Fold in the cranberries and pour into baking dish.
- Bake as directed and once done remove and cool. Then drizzle with melted white chocolate.
Helpful Tips for Cranberry Lemon Bars
Mixer
You can use a hand mixer or stand mixer for this dessert. By using a mixer instead of spoon or whisk you will find it really creams the ingredients. This helps with a light and delicious texture.
Cranberries
Depending on the time of the year you might find it hard to buy fresh cranberries. You can use frozen cranberries to simplify the bars. Just stir in the frozen batter. The berries will leak a little coloring into dough but the bars will still taste spot on.
Enhance Lemon Zest
Take your lemon zest and pair with about ½ tablespoon of granulated sugar. Massage zest and sugar in hand and by rubbing zest with sugar it will bring out a bolder lemon flavor.
Variations to Lemon Cranberry Bars
Orange Flavor
Swap out the lemon for orange juice and you will still have a citrus twist, but with a sweeter pairing.
Nuts
Consider sprinkling the top of your bars with slivered almonds once you drizzle with white chocolate. This would add a nice crunch element.
Chocolate
If you want you can use white chocolate chips to fold in the bars at the same time as cranberries. This will add flavor to each bite sweetening up the bars even more.
Cranberry Lemon Bars Common Questions
How to store lemon cranberry bars?
Once your bars are fully cooled, place in an airtight container. Then you can place your bars on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 days. Or refrigerate for 3-4 days. The fridge extends the shelf life.
Can you freeze these cranberry bars?
If you happen to have extra cranberry lemon bars just freeze what you won’t eat. The bars can be wrapped in foil and then in a freezer bag. Or container of choice. The bars store for 2-3 months.
Does this cranberry bar recipe double?
This bar recipe can be doubled. Reach for a 9x13 pan to bake up this dessert bar. Just cook until bars are fully done.
Cranberry Lemon Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups cranberries fresh or frozen
- Melted white chocolate optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F, grease and flour or line a 9x9 baking sheet and set aside
- Beat together the oil, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla until smooth
- Add in the flour, baking powder, salt
- Stir until combined and batter becomes smooth and lump-free.
- Fold in the cranberries.
- Combine until all cranberries are covered with batter.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool, drizzle with melted chocolate if using
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