This batch of Cranberry Nut Bars started as a way to use up half a bag of fresh cranberries leftover from Thanksgiving. I wasn't expecting them to be nearly as good as they were, or as open to improvisation.
Ocean Spray Cranberry Nut Bars
The original recipe from Ocean Spray has very few ingredients and can stand on its own, but adding some additional flavorings such as orange zest and vanilla makes the bars even better. That, and icing them. A mixture of confectioners sugar and water that dries hard works perfectly -- nothing too complicated.
Texture of Bars
The bars are kind of cake like, but with all the nuts and berries they're a little denser than your usual coffee cake. If you want a thinner bar, use a 9 inch pan instead of a an 8 inch pan. If you want a crispy cookie, make the bars as directed, freeze them so that they slice neatly, cut into thin strips and bake at 300 for about 25 to 30 minutes to dry them out. So from one recipe you can make thick cake-like bars, thin cookie-like bars or cookies, and then the flavor variations are up to you.
Recipe
Cranberry Nut Bars
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or use ½ teaspoon vanilla and ¼ teaspoon orange zest
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 130 grams
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter 80 grams
- ⅜ scant teaspoon of salt add only ⅛ if using salted butter
- 1 ¼ cups fresh cranberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans lightly toasted
Icing
- ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar
- A few drops of water and vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
- Beat eggs in a medium mixing bowl until thick. Gradually add sugar, beating until thoroughly blended. Stir in flour, melted butter and salt; blend well with a heavy duty scraper. Add cranberries and nuts, mixing gently just until combined. Spread evenly in pan.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely and drizzle with icing if desired.
- To make icing, put confectioners' sugar into a large measuring cup. Add a few drops of vanilla, then add water a few drops at a time, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and thin enough to be drizzled across the top.
Notes
For thinner bars, bake in a 9 inch square pan.
To make cranberry nut crisps, slice the baked square into thin (about ⅓ of an inch) slices and bake in a 300 degree oven for about 20 to 28 minutes or until the crisps just barely start to brown around the edges. Let them cool (they'll become crisper as they cool) on a wire rack).
Anna
Good call on substituting coconut oil! I was going to try that but didn't get around to it.
Martha
These are great! Substituted coconut oil for melted butter too and the bake turned out yummy. Reduced sugar to 3/4 cup.
Kathy
Just what I've been looking for--thank you!
Sonya
Similar to what we are eating right now, Cook's Country's Cranberry-Pecan Spice Cake. Yum to both 🙂
Anna
Rynda, the tartness of the cranberries really comes through. It's a nice change from dried cranberries.
I actually liked the "crisps" and want to make a second batch where I cut them neater -- maybe into 8 inch strips instead of 4 inch.
Rynda Carlis
I love the tartness of fresh cranberries in baked goods. Am looking forward to using this recipe with the last of my Thanksgiving cranberries. Thanks!