Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars are a festive and easy dessert that brings professional results to your holiday table. This recipe combines a chewy oat crust, a tart cranberry filling, and sweet toppings for a truly special treat that’s perfect for sharing.

Your Timeline for Perfect Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars

As a chef, I appreciate a recipe that respects your time, especially during the busy holidays. This is one of those easy Christmas baking projects that delivers maximum flavor without a huge time commitment. Your active prep time is just 15 minutes, which is perfect for fitting into a busy day.

The bars bake for 30-35 minutes, filling your kitchen with the most wonderful festive aroma. The total time from start to finish, including cooling, is under three hours. This hands-off approach means you can focus on other holiday dessert recipes while these gems bake and set. For another quick and festive option, consider my Christmas cheesecake bars that share a similar ease of preparation.

This efficient timeline makes these bars ideal for last-minute gatherings or a spontaneous baking session. The result is a pan of incredibly flavorful holiday cranberry crumb bars that look and taste like you spent all day in the kitchen.

Thoughtful Tips for Special Diets

I believe everyone should be able to enjoy festive cranberry treats, so here are a few simple adaptations. For a lower sugar version, you can reduce the brown sugar in the crust by a quarter cup; the oats and cranberries provide plenty of flavor. Using a sugar-free cranberry sauce is another excellent option for a more sugar conscious approach.

For a gluten-free alternative, a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend works perfectly in place of the all-purpose flour. If you’re looking for a natural sweetener, coconut sugar can be substituted for the brown sugar, though it will impart a slightly darker color and richer flavor. These small tweaks allow you to create a dessert that fits your dietary needs without sacrificing the joyful spirit of the season.

Pro Tips for Bakery-Quality Bars

After years of teaching baking classes, I’ve found that a few chef techniques make all the difference. First, always line your pan with parchment paper with an overhang. This is the professional secret to getting clean, perfect bars every time.

Here are my top tips for success:

• Flavor Swap: For a citrus twist, add the zest of one orange to the crust mixture. It complements the cranberries beautifully, much like in my cranberry orange bread.
• Diet Tweak: To make these dairy-free, use a high-quality vegan butter alternative. The texture and flavor will remain fantastic.
• Texture Fix: Press the bottom crust firmly and evenly. A compact base prevents the filling from seeping through and creates a sturdy bar.
• Storage Tip: For the best texture, store layers separated by parchment paper in an airtight container. This keeps them from sticking together.

Another key tip is to let the bars cool completely before cutting. I know it’s tempting, but this patience ensures clean slices. For more bar recipes that use similar techniques, check out my guide to making perfect snowball cookies.

Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars

Make delicious Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars with a buttery oat crust and sweet cranberry filling. This easy holiday recipe features white chocolate chips and dried cranberries for festive flavor.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 bars

Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

• mixing bowl
• whisk
• spatula
• oven
• 8×8-inch square baking pan
• parchment paper
• knife
• cutting board
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• wire rack
• medium bowl

Ingredients

  

Crust and Topping

• 1.25 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
• 0.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 12 tbsp unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling

• 1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce 14 ounce can
• 0.5 cup white chocolate chips
• 0.33 cup dried cranberries chopped

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal, and lightly grease the paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined.
• Pour the 12 tablespoons of melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until the mixture is fully moistened and forms a crumbly dough.
• Firmly press 2/3 of this oat mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan to create an even, compact crust.
• In a medium bowl, stir the can of cranberry sauce to break it up slightly, then spread it evenly over the crust with a spoon or offset spatula.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 of the oat mixture over the cranberry layer, followed by the 1/2 cup white chocolate chips and 1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries, distributing them evenly.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is a light golden brown and the edges are bubbling. The bars will still be soft in the center but will firm up as they cool.
• Let the pan cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours, then use the parchment paper to lift the entire block out before cutting into 16 bars.

Notes

Let the bars cool completely before cutting for clean slices.

Keyword bars, Christmas, cranberry, holiday

Nutrition and Health Benefits

While these Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars are certainly a treat, they do offer some nutritional perks. Cranberries are a well-known source of antioxidants and vitamin C, which is a lovely bonus during the winter season. The oats contribute dietary fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health.

By using whole-berry cranberry sauce, you’re incorporating real fruit into your dessert. When you compare these to many other holiday dessert recipes, they often have a slightly better nutritional profile due to the fruit and oat content. For another dessert that incorporates fruit, my Christmas fruitcake is a classic option. According to the USDA FoodData Central, oats are a good source of manganese and phosphorus. Enjoying one of these bars with a cup of tea is a delightful way to indulge mindfully.

A Lighter Version for Everyday Enjoyment

If you’d like to make these bars a bit lighter for more frequent enjoyment, I have a few tested tweaks. You can reduce the butter in the crust by two tablespoons; the bars will be slightly less rich but still delicious. Alternatively, using a cranberry sauce with no added sugar significantly reduces the overall sweetness.

For a different flavor profile that’s naturally a bit lighter, my cranberry orange muffins are a wonderful option. Another idea is to replace half of the white chocolate chips with chopped nuts for added protein and healthy fats. These small adjustments allow you to tailor the recipe to your preferences while keeping the spirit of these festive cranberry treats intact.

How to Serve Your Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars with Style

I love serving these bars on a beautiful platter for a holiday gathering. They are stunning on their own, but a dusting of powdered sugar right before serving adds a snow-kissed effect that guests always adore. For a truly special presentation, drizzle them with a little melted white chocolate.

These bars pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk. For an adult gathering, they are fantastic with a dessert wine or a hot toddy. If you’re creating a larger dessert spread, they complement other holiday favorites like gingerbread cookies and eggnog cookies beautifully. The red and white colors make them a natural fit for any Christmas table.

Common Mistakes (So You Don’t Make Them)

I’ve seen many home cooks make the same simple errors with bar recipes. The most common issue is cutting the bars while they are still warm. This causes them to fall apart and creates a messy presentation. Always allow them to cool completely, which allows the layers to set properly.

Another frequent mistake is not pressing the bottom crust firmly enough. A loosely packed crust can result in a crumbly base that doesn’t hold together. Use the back of a measuring cup to press it down evenly and firmly. Also, avoid overbaking; the top should be light golden brown, not dark brown. The bars will continue to set as they cool. For more troubleshooting tips on holiday baking, my guide to perfect Christmas cookies covers many common issues. The experts at King Arthur Baking also emphasize the importance of proper cooling. Remember, technique matters more than fancy ingredients for achieving professional results at home.

How to Store Your Bars for Lasting Freshness

Proper storage is key to keeping your bars moist and delicious. Once cooled and cut, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days. For longer storage, these bars freeze exceptionally well.

To freeze, place the cooled bars in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving. This make-ahead advantage makes them a lifesaver during the hectic holiday season. For another great make-ahead holiday recipe, try my cranberry bread, which also freezes beautifully.

Why You Should Try This Recipe Now

This recipe is one of my holiday favorites because it consistently delivers professional results with minimal effort. The combination of the chewy oat crust, the tangy cranberry filling, and the sweet toppings is simply irresistible. It’s a dessert that feels special enough for Christmas Day but easy enough for a casual weeknight.

I encourage you to bake a batch of these Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars and share them with someone you love. The joy of homemade baking is one of the best parts of the season. If you enjoy these, you might also like my cranberry crumble bars for a slightly different texture, or my cranberry orange cookies for a handheld treat. For a richer dessert, my cranberry cream cheese bread is always a hit, and my cranberry orange bread recipe is a classic. Don’t forget to explore Christmas candy ideas for more festive sweet options. These Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars are sure to become a new tradition in your home.

More Festive Treats You’ll Love

If you enjoyed making these bars, you’re likely a fan of festive, fruit-forward desserts. The holiday season is the perfect time to explore new recipes that bring warmth and joy to your table.

Here are a few more of my favorite holiday recipes to try next:

• Christmas Cheesecake – A stunning, creamy dessert that’s the centerpiece of any holiday feast.

Frequently Asked Questions