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Cranberry Lemon Bars

Zesty Cranberry Lemon Bars: A Sweet-Tart Delight You’ll Love

Delight in the refreshing sweet-tart flavor of Cranberry Lemon Bars, perfectly balanced with a buttery crust.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Cooling Time 3 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 200
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Crust
  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour substitute with gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free options
  • ¾ cups Granulated Sugar adjust to taste or use coconut sugar for a unique flavor
  • ½ teaspoon Salt optional but recommended
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter very cold and cubed
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract use pure extract for best taste
For the Filling
  • 3 large Eggs at room temperature
  • ½ cup Lemon Juice freshly squeezed is a must
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest try lime or orange zest for a twist
For the Cranberry Swirl
  • 2 cups Cranberries fresh or frozen, do not thaw
Optional Topping
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar for dusting when serving

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • pastry cutter
  • Whisk
  • Saucepan
  • Wire rack

Method
 

Step‑by‑Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold butter and vanilla, mixing until coarse crumbs form. Press evenly into the prepared pan.
  3. Bake the crust for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden. Allow cooling slightly.
  4. Whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. Beat the eggs until light, then combine with dry ingredients. Gradually fold in lemon juice, lemon zest, and melted butter.
  5. In a saucepan, simmer cranberries with sugar and water for 5-7 minutes until thickened. Mash slightly.
  6. Pour lemon filling over the crust. Spoon cranberry swirl on top and gently swirl. Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are set.
  7. Cool completely on a wire rack, refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving, then dust with powdered sugar and slice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 75mgPotassium: 80mgSugar: 18gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg

Notes

For clean squares, use a sharp knife and allow bars to cool completely before slicing. Refrigerate for best flavors.

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