Lemon Almond Cranberry Squares Recipes

LEMON ALMOND CAKE WITH CRANBERRY GLAZE

Steps:

• For the lemon almond cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, almond meal, poppy seeds, baking powder, salt, baking soda and zest in a medium bowl. Whisk together the yogurt and lemon juice in a separate small bowl until very smooth. Whisk together the granulated sugar and olive oil in a large bowl until combined. Add the eggs to the olive oil mixture, one at a time, whisking very well after each, then stir in the almond extract. Add the dry ingredients and yogurt mixture to the olive oil mixture in three alternating additions, whisking after each until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the cranberry glaze: Combine the cranberries with 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until the cranberries start to break down and release their juices (you can help this process along by smashing them with a rubber spatula), 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the cranberries and their juices into a fine-mesh sieve placed over a bowl. Press the mixture through the sieve with a spatula, making sure to scrape off the bottom of the sieve and adding that to the bowl as well. Add the powdered sugar and salt to the bowl and mix until it comes together into a spreadable glaze. (It will seem like a lot of sugar at first but it will eventually incorporate.) If the glaze is too thick, add a couple drops of water until it's thin enough to spread. If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.
• To decorate: Spread the glaze over the top of the cake, then sprinkle with sliced almonds, rose petals, fresh thyme leaves, sliced cranberries and sprinkles.

CRANBERRY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• For the cranberry-lemon juice: Cook the cranberries, lemon juice and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries soften and begin to burst, 10 to 12 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth inside the saucepan. Cool while you make the crust.
• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving at least 2 inches of excess on either side to help you unmold the bars later.
• Cream the butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the all-purpose flour, almond flour and salt and mix on low speed until the mixture comes together. Scrape the bowl well, then mix on low speed again.
• Crumble the crust into the prepared baking dish and carefully press into an even layer with your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup.
• Bake until lightly golden brown at the edges, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool completely.
• For the filling: Whisk the cooled cranberry-lemon juice mixture with the eggs, egg yolks and sea salt in a large bowl until well combined. Add the melted butter and whisk well to combine. Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Gently transfer to the oven and bake until the center of the custard sets, 24 to 28 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then chill for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.

CRANBERRY-LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries and 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until water has been absorbed, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer cranberry mixture to bowl of a food processor; chop coarsely. Transfer to a bowl, and set aside.
• In bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar and 3/4 cup flour. Add butter, beating on low speed until mixture forms pea-size pieces. Press batter into baking pan.
• Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Beat eggs and granulated sugar until smooth. Add lemon juice; beat to combine. Add remaining 1/4 cup flour, and beat to combine; set lemon mixture aside.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Spread cranberry mixture over cooked crust. Pour lemon mixture over the cranberry mixture. Bake until set, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 40 minutes. Chill 4 hours. To serve, cut into squares, and dust with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON ALMOND CRANBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• For the crust: Combine all ingredients until crumbly.
• Press firmly into a prepared 13" x 9" pan. Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden.
• For the topping: Reduce oven temperature to 325°F
• Grate zest from two lemons.
• Squeeze out 3/4 cup juice.
• Beat eggs and sugar until light and slightly thickened.
• Stir in zest, juice and remaining ingredients.
• Mix well.
• Pour over baked crust.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until set and golden.
• Cool completely, then cut into squares.

CRANBERRY-LEMON BLONDIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Mix together butter, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, almond extract, and vanilla extract in another bowl until well combined. Add wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until well mixed. Mix in 1/2 cup of the cranberries and white chocolate chips.
• Spread batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of cranberries evenly over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden and the center is set, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove blondies from the oven to cool on a wire rack completely before slicing and serving.

GINGERED LEMON ALMOND SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a food processor grind fine the almonds with 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar and 1 cup of the flour, add the butter, and blend the mixture until it just resembles meal. Pat the mixture into an 8-inch-square baking pan and bake the crust in the middle of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it is pale golden. Let the crust cool completely in the pan on a rack.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the eggs until they are thick and pale, beat in the granulated sugar and the lemon juice, and beat the mixture for 8 minutes. Sift in the remaining 2 tablespoons flour, the baking powder, the ginger, and a pinch of salt, stir the filling until it is combined well, and pour it over the crust. Bake the confection in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is set and pale golden. Transfer the dessert in the pan to the rack, sift the additional confectioners' sugar over the top, and let the dessert cool completely. Cut the dessert into 2-inch squares.

LEMON ALMOND CRANBERRY SQUARES

Steps:

• CRUST: Combine 2 cups flour, icing sugar and 1 cup butter or margarine until crumbly.
• Press firmly into a greased 13 x 9 inch cake pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until light golden.
• TOPPING: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Grate rind from 2 lemons. Squeeze out 3/4 cup juice.
• Beat eggs and sugar until light and thickened.
• Stir in rind, juice and remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour over baked crust.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until set and golden.
• Cool then cut into squares.