Description
These Cranberry Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a festive dessert made with tart cranberries and a rich cream cheese topping. This cranberry dessert recipe is perfect for the holidays, featuring easy prep, balanced sweetness, and seasonal flavors.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually combine dry ingredients with the wet mixture.
6. Fold in cranberries evenly into the thick batter.
7. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes until golden.
8. Let bars cool completely before frosting.
9. For frosting, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually.
10. Mix in milk or cream until desired consistency is reached.
11. Spread frosting over cooled bars and chill for 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
These bars slice best when chilled.
You can freeze unfrosted bars for up to one month.
Fresh or frozen cranberries both work—no need to thaw frozen ones.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg