Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups Granulated sugar (divided)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) Cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3 cups Fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Fresh orange zest
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal later.
- Step 2: Prepare the base dough by combining the flour, salt, and 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Step 3: Press about two-thirds of the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Set the remaining third of the crumbs aside for the topping.
- Step 4: Prepare the filling by mixing the cranberries, the remaining 1 cup of granulated sugar, the eggs, orange zest, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Pour this mixture evenly over the prepared crust.
- Step 5: Sprinkle the reserved one-third of the crumb mixture evenly over the cranberry filling to create a crumble topping. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly and set.
- Step 6: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack (about 2 hours) before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang and cutting them into squares.
Notes
- For maximum freshness, refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 7 days, allowing them to come slightly closer to room temperature before serving.
- If the topping softens in storage, reheat individual bars in a toaster oven for 5-8 minutes at 300°F (150°C) until the crumb is slightly crisp again.
- Serve the bars slightly warm alongside a generous scoop of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream lightly dusted with extra orange zest.
- Ensure your butter is truly ice-cold when preparing the crumb mixture; this prevents the crust from becoming tough and guarantees that wonderful, sandy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American