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The Ultimate Cranberry Cheesecake Bars: A Festive Holiday Delight

Prepare to delight your taste buds with these absolutely luscious cranberry cheesecake bars. Crafted with a buttery, golden shortbread crust and crumble topping, a rich and creamy cheesecake filling, and bursts of tart cranberries infused with a hint of bright orange zest, these bars offer a symphony of flavors and textures. They strike the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, creating an irresistible treat that promises a satisfying buttery crunch with every bite. Ideal for holiday gatherings or a cozy winter evening, these bars are poised to become your new favorite festive dessert.

My inspiration for this delightful recipe stemmed from the beloved Peaches and Cream Bars. I envisioned how beautifully the velvety cheesecake layer and the crisp crumble topping would complement the vibrant, tangy flavor of cranberries. The addition of fresh cranberries and a subtle hint of orange zest elevates these bars, infusing them with a distinctly seasonal touch that makes them an impeccable choice for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive winter celebration. They’re not just a dessert; they’re an experience, embodying the warmth and cheer of the holiday season in every delicious square.

How to Master Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Creating these exquisite cranberry cheesecake bars is a straightforward and enjoyable process. Follow these detailed steps to achieve perfect, mouthwatering results every time.

Preparing The Buttery Shortbread Crust & Crumbs

The shortbread is a versatile star in this recipe, forming both the firm, flavorful base and the irresistible buttery crumbles sprinkled on top. To begin, in a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, light or dark brown sugar, baking powder, a touch of ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. These dry ingredients lay the foundation for a deeply flavorful shortbread. Next, pour in the melted unsalted butter and a generous splash of vanilla extract. Stir everything together until the mixture is uniformly combined and has a delightful, crumbly texture. This buttery blend is the key to both the crust and the topping. Divide the mixture, pressing about two-thirds firmly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan to create a sturdy crust. Set the remaining one-third aside; it will become the golden, crunchy crumble topping later.

Crafting the Velvety Cheesecake Layer

The heart of these bars is the incredibly smooth and creamy cheesecake filling. Achieving this silky texture begins with ensuring your cream cheese is at room temperature. This crucial step prevents lumps and ensures that all ingredients blend seamlessly. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed until it’s perfectly smooth and light, with no traces of cream cheese lumps. Then, gently mix in one large egg and vanilla extract. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; beat just until everything is incorporated and the mixture is uniform. This luscious cheesecake layer will provide a beautiful contrast to the tart cranberries.

Infusing the Bars with the Vibrant Cranberry Layer

The cranberry layer brings a burst of tangy fruitiness that perfectly complements the rich cheesecake and buttery shortbread. In a medium bowl, combine the fresh or frozen cranberries with brown sugar, fresh orange juice, finely grated orange zest, cornstarch, and a hint of ground cinnamon. The brown sugar balances the cranberries’ tartness, while the orange juice and zest amplify their bright flavor. Cornstarch acts as a thickening agent, ensuring the cranberry layer sets beautifully and isn’t too runny. Mix all these ingredients together until the cranberries are thoroughly coated with the sweet and spiced sugar mixture. Once prepared, gently spoon the cranberry mixture over the cheesecake layer, spreading it out as evenly as possible to ensure every slice gets a generous portion of fruit.

Finishing with Golden Shortbread Crumbles

The final layer before baking is the delightful shortbread crumble, which adds an irresistible texture and a beautiful golden-brown finish. Take the remaining one-third of the shortbread mixture that you set aside earlier. Using your fingers, gently break this mixture into small, irregular crumbles. The variety in size adds to the rustic charm and textural interest of the finished bars. Carefully sprinkle these buttery crumbles evenly over the top of the cranberry layer, ensuring it is well covered. This crumble will bake into a golden, crispy topping, providing the perfect textural counterpoint to the creamy filling and tart fruit.

Baking to Perfection & Essential Cooling

Once all layers are assembled, it’s time for baking. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Carefully place the baking pan into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30-33 minutes. The bars are ready when the edges of the shortbread are beautifully golden brown, and the cheesecake filling appears mostly set with a slight jiggle in the very center. Overbaking can lead to a dry cheesecake, so keep a close eye on them. After baking, the most critical step for optimal texture and ease of slicing is proper cooling. Allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack for at least an hour. Then, transfer them to the refrigerator and chill for a minimum of a few hours, or ideally, overnight. This chilling period allows the cheesecake to firm up and the flavors to meld beautifully. Once thoroughly chilled, slice into squares and savor every exquisite bite!

Why These Cranberry Cheesecake Bars Will Be Your New Favorite

These cranberry cheesecake bars aren’t just a dessert; they’re a celebration of flavors and textures that make them utterly irresistible. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with them:

• Dual-Purpose Buttery Shortbread: The foundation and crown of these bars feature a rich, buttery shortbread that serves as both a sturdy, flavorful crust and a delightful, crunchy crumble topping. This double duty ensures a harmonious texture throughout, from the firm base to the golden, crumbly top.
• Luxuriously Creamy Cheesecake Filling: A smooth, decadent cream cheese filling provides the perfect canvas for the vibrant cranberries. Its subtle sweetness and velvety texture create an exquisite contrast with the tartness of the fruit, making for a truly harmonious bite.
• Bursting with Tangy Cranberry Flavor: The star of the show, tart cranberries, are beautifully balanced with brown sugar and a hint of orange zest. Each bite delivers a refreshing burst of tangy fruit that cuts through the richness of the cheesecake, creating an unforgettable flavor profile.
• Effortlessly Festive & Shareable: These bars are incredibly easy to make, slice, and share, making them a fantastic option for holiday potlucks, family gatherings, or a simple dessert to brighten a winter day. Their vibrant color and enticing aroma scream “holiday season”!
• Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare these bars in advance, allowing the flavors to deepen and the layers to set perfectly. This makes them an ideal dessert for busy hosts, freeing up your time to enjoy the festivities.
• Visually Stunning: With their distinct layers and beautiful crimson cranberries peeking through the golden crumble, these bars are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. They’ll be a showstopper on any dessert table.

Favorite Baking Tools

Equipping your kitchen with the right tools can make all the difference in your baking endeavors. Here are some of my favorite tools that simplify the process of making these delicious bars and countless other recipes:

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Recipe FAQs

Here are some common questions about making Cranberry Cheesecake Bars to help you achieve the best results:

Should I use fresh or frozen cranberries?

You have the flexibility to use either fresh or frozen cranberries for this recipe, and both will yield excellent results. When fresh cranberries are in season, typically in the fall, I highly recommend stocking up on them. They freeze beautifully, allowing you to enjoy these delightful cranberry bars any time of year! If using frozen cranberries, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand; you can add them directly to the mixture. The cornstarch in the recipe will work its magic whether the cranberries are fresh or frozen, ensuring the layer sets perfectly.

Does the cream cheese need to be at room temperature?

Absolutely, yes! Allowing your cream cheese to come to room temperature is a crucial step for a silky-smooth cheesecake layer. Cold cream cheese is stiff and difficult to blend, often resulting in a lumpy mixture even after extensive beating. For best results, plan ahead and let the cream cheese sit out on your countertop for a few hours. If you’re short on time, you can carefully soften the cream cheese in the microwave. Use the defrost setting and microwave in 10-15 second intervals, flipping it over each time, until it’s softened but not melted. This ensures it will combine effortlessly with the sugar and egg for a flawless consistency.

Do I need a stand mixer for this recipe?

While a stand mixer can certainly make the process quicker and more hands-off, it is by no means essential for this recipe. You can achieve fantastic results with an electric hand mixer, which is what I often prefer to use. A medium-sized mixing bowl paired with a hand mixer provides great control for combining the shortbread mixture and ensuring the cheesecake layer is perfectly smooth. If you don’t have an electric mixer, vigorous whisking for the cheesecake layer might work, but it will require more effort and attention to achieve a lump-free consistency.

What is the best way to store Cranberry Cheesecake Bars?

To maintain their freshness and delicious texture, these cranberry cheesecake bars should always be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for up to 3 days. If you plan to stack the bars, it’s important to place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer. This simple trick prevents the bars from sticking together and helps preserve their beautiful appearance, especially with the creamy cheesecake and slightly sticky cranberry topping. For longer storage, you can also freeze the bars for up to 1-2 months in an airtight container, again separating layers with parchment paper.

Baking Tip: Embrace the Accuracy of Weighing Your Ingredients!

For consistent and professional-level baking results, I cannot emphasize enough the benefits of using a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients rather than relying solely on measuring cups. Weighing ingredients, especially flour and sugar, provides unparalleled accuracy, eliminating discrepancies caused by how ingredients are scooped or packed. This precision leads to more consistent outcomes with your recipes every single time, significantly boosting your success rate in the kitchen. Beyond accuracy, using a scale often means fewer measuring cups to wash, translating to easier and quicker cleanup! I make sure to provide gram measurements in all my recipes, and this is the kitchen scale I personally love and use for all my baking needs.

Essential Tips for Baking Success

Achieving perfectly set, beautifully sliced cranberry cheesecake bars is easy with these expert tips:

Serve chilled. While the aroma of freshly baked cheesecake bars is incredibly tempting, resist the urge to slice into them right out of the oven. These bars are truly at their best after they’ve had ample time to chill in the refrigerator. Chilling allows the creamy cheesecake layer to firm up and fully set, preventing it from being gooey or messy. It also gives the buttery shortbread crust and the cranberry topping a chance to solidify and meld together, resulting in a more cohesive and pleasant texture. Furthermore, thoroughly chilled bars are significantly easier to slice into neat, clean squares, making for a more appealing presentation. Patience is key for the best experience!

Prep your pan for effortless removal. Proper pan preparation is vital for easy extraction of your cheesecake bars. This recipe works wonderfully in a standard 9” x 9” square baking pan. Start by lightly spraying the pan with a bit of nonstick cooking spray. This initial spray helps the parchment paper adhere smoothly. Next, line the pan with parchment paper, creating a “sling.” To do this, cut a piece of parchment paper long enough to cover the bottom of the pan and extend up two opposite sides, creating an overhang. I often use metal binder clips to secure these parchment overhangs to the edges of the pan during baking. This parchment sling acts as handles, allowing you to lift the entire batch of cooled bars out of the pan with incredible ease, preventing any sticking or breakage.

Slice with a hot knife for clean cuts. Between the rich, creamy cheesecake filling and the slightly crumbly shortbread crust, these bars can sometimes be challenging to slice cleanly, potentially resulting in jagged edges or smudged layers. For beautifully precise cuts, employ the hot knife trick. Simply dip the blade of a large, sharp knife into very hot water (from the tap is usually sufficient). Immediately wipe the blade completely dry with a clean towel. The heated blade will glide through the layers, creating a much cleaner cut by slightly melting the butter and cream cheese on contact. After each cut, wipe the knife clean and repeat the process of dipping it in hot water and drying it before making the next slice. This method ensures every square looks professionally made.

More Delightful Bar Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re a fan of easy-to-make, shareable bar desserts, be sure to explore these other delicious recipes from my kitchen:

• Cherry Crumb Bars
• Chocolate Caramel Pecan Bars
• Mixed Berry Streusel Bars
• White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

If you give this cranberry cheesecake bar recipe a try and find yourself loving it as much as I do, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and share your experience. Happy baking!

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars with Crumble Topping

Indulge in the perfect balance of tart cranberry, creamy cheesecake, and buttery shortbread with these delicious Cranberry Cheesecake Bars. This easy dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion, especially during the holidays!

Author: Rachel

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Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

33 mins

Total Time

53 mins

Yield

16 servings

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Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust & Crumbs

• 2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50g) light or dark brown sugar
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks or 170g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cheesecake Layer

• 8 ounces (1 block or 227g) cream cheese, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup (70g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cranberry Layer

• 8 ounces (about 2 cups) fresh or frozen cranberries
• ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon orange juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Prepare your baking pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9” x 9” square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing for an overhang on all four sides to create a convenient “sling.” This will make removing the bars much easier later.
2. Create the Shortbread Crust & Crumbs: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Use a fork or whisk to thoroughly mix these dry ingredients. Pour in the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract, then mix until the mixture is fully combined and has a uniform, crumbly texture.
3. Form the Crust: Take approximately two-thirds of the shortbread mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. You can use the bottom of a measuring cup or a flat-bottomed drinking glass to help pack it down and ensure a smooth, even crust. Set the remaining shortbread mixture aside for the crumble topping.
4. Prepare the Cheesecake Layer: In a separate mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar together until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. Add the large egg and vanilla extract, mixing just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can incorporate too much air. Pour this creamy cheesecake mixture evenly over the pressed shortbread base, spreading it gently with a small offset spatula.
5. Assemble the Cranberry Layer: In a large bowl, combine the fresh or frozen cranberries with brown sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly until all the cranberries are well-coated with the sweet and spiced sugar mixture.
6. Add Cranberries and Crumbles: Carefully pour the cranberry mixture onto the cream cheese layer, spreading it out into an even layer using the back of a spoon or spatula. Then, take the reserved shortbread mixture, crumble it into small, uniform pieces with your fingers, and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the cranberry layer.
7. Bake the Bars: Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-33 minutes. The bars are done when the shortbread topping is golden brown and the cheesecake filling appears mostly set, with only a slight wobble in the center.
8. Cool and Chill: Once baked, remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely to room temperature on a wire rack. This is a crucial step! After they have cooled to room temperature, transfer the pan to the refrigerator and chill for several hours, or ideally, overnight. Chilling ensures the cheesecake sets properly and makes the bars much easier to slice cleanly.
9. Serve: Once thoroughly chilled, use the parchment paper sling to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Place them on a cutting board, use a hot, sharp knife (as per the tips above) to slice into squares, and enjoy your delicious Cranberry Cheesecake Bars!

HI THERE!

I’m Rachel

I’m the dessert lover, recipe developer, and content creator behind Sweet Kitchen Cravings. Here you’ll find classic yet special recipes that are sure to impress your loved ones!

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