Recipe For Cranberry Lemon Bars

CRANBERRY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
• While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
• Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
• Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops just before serving.

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 BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Lightly coat the parchment with cooking spray. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool.
• Finely grind the nuts in a food processor. Add the flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse. Add 1 1/2 sticks butter and 2 egg yolks; process until the dough comes together. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer (use a piece of parchment to help). Bake until the crust is golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool.
• Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons warm water in a small microwave-safe bowl and stir to combine. Microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted.
• Combine the cranberries, vanilla bean and 3/4 cup sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir in 2 tablespoons warm water and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the vanilla bean. Transfer the mixture to a blender, add the gelatin mixture and puree on low speed until smooth but not too airy; set aside.
• Meanwhile, whisk the 3 whole eggs, remaining 2 egg yolks, the lemon zest, lemon juice and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 5 to 10 minutes (do not boil). Remove from the heat and whisk in the remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter, one piece at a time, until creamy. Whisk in the cranberry mixture until combined. Spread the cranberry mixture over the cooled crust and refrigerate, uncovered, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lift the bars out of the pan and remove the parchment. Cut into small squares.

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.

CRANBERRY CRUMBLE BARS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
• Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg yolks and vanilla extract, beating to combine.
• In a separate bowl, mix the flour and salt together.
• Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients until combined. The dough will be slightly crumbly.
• Divide the dough into thirds.
• Spread ⅔ of the dough in the bottom of the prepared 9x13-inch pan. Press until the dough lays flat and even along the sides. Bake for 25 minutes.
• While the dough bakes, fold the chocolate chips and nuts into the remaining ⅓ of the dough.
• Take the pan out of the oven and evenly spread a whole bag of cranberries over the dough, to the edges.
• Quickly and evenly, put approximately 1-inch pieces of the remaining dough mixture on top of the baked dough and cranberries.
• Put the pan back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes.
• Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and continue baking for another approximately 10 minutes, until it's cooked through. The top should be golden brown and the cranberries should be bubbly.
• Let the bars cool for a few minutes before cutting. The bars can be served warm or cold.