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Cranberry Walnut Crumble Bars for #SundaySupper

Cranberry Walnut Crumble Bars | Magnolia Days

Holiday foods and ingredients line the shelves. You walk in the store and the front display has the assorted usual baking supplies. Marshmallow fluff, brown sugar, candied fruit, chocolate chips, and nuts are there waiting for you to buy. End displays further temp you as you go through the store. You arrive at the produce department to see an array of seasonal items. Fresh cranberries are one of them. However, Thanksgiving is over and you wonder what to do with them besides making sauce. The answer is simple; make cranberry walnut crumble bars.

Fresh cranberries are quite interesting. They float and bounce. Floating is how they are harvested. The fields are flooded and the berries rise to the surface. Bouncing helps growers sort through to find the good ones to sell. Cranberries are very sour and bitter in their natural form. It is why most of the dishes made with them are sweetened. The cranberries in these bars are sweetened and softened by cooking them with corn syrup, water, and orange juice.

Cranberry Walnut Crumble Bars | Magnolia Days

How are the cranberry walnut crumble bars? They have a wonderful sweet/tart flavor combo thanks to the cranberries. The crust is a nutty, buttery platform for the filling. One of the best parts is that it is covered with a walnut crumble topping. The bars are on the soft and gooey side so be careful when picking up one. It may try to fall apart on you. Best thing to do is to eat it quick before it has a chance. At least that is what I did.

I have you covered with fresh cranberries. The Sunday Supper bloggers have you covered with much more. Our “We Got You Covered” event has recipes for covered dishes, foods that are covered, and covering a need you may have. Special thanks our host DB, aka Foodie Stuntman, of Crazy Foodie Stunts for keeping us covered with the behind the scenes details for this event. Scroll down to see the fantastic recipes we have for you.

Have you cooked or baked with fresh cranberries? Now is the time. Grab several packs at the store and take advantage of them while they are available. Make these bars or cranberry salad and enjoy the season.

Cranberry Walnut Crumble Bars

A recipe for cranberry walnut crumble bars made with fresh cranberries. The crust and top crumble has walnuts and is flavored with cinnamon. They are a great snack any time of the day.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Author Renee

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 2/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the crust and crumble topping:

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter 1 stick, diced
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

For the filling:

  1. Place the cranberries, corn syrup, water and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.

For the bars:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan. You can also line the pan with parchment for easier removal after baking.
  2. In a food processor fitted with a knife blade, add the sugar, brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Pulse one or two times to combine. Add the diced butter. Pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. Transfer the crumb mixture into a large bowl. Stir in the walnuts.
  5. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture in a bowl to be used for the topping.
  6. Pour the remaining crumb mixture into the baking pan, spread evenly, and firmly press down.
  7. Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Pour the filling over the baked crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture on top.
  8. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until set.
  9. Cool completely on a wire rack. Slice into bars or squares.

Recipe Notes

A recipe for cranberry walnut crumble bars made with fresh cranberries. The crust and top crumble has walnuts and is flavored with cinnamon. They are a great snack any time of the day.

Recipe adapted/inspired from a combination of elements from Peanutty Cranberry Bars on Hershey’s website and Cranberry Crumble Bars on Betty Crocker website.

Want to see how Sunday Supper has you covered? Check out these wonderful recipes:

Covered Appetizers and Entreés

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Recipe Rating




Sarah Reid, RHNC (@jo_jo_ba)

Tuesday 3rd of December 2013

I know a host of people who would kill for these

Renee

Saturday 7th of December 2013

I took them to a family birthday celebration and they disappeared in a matter of minutes.

Bill

Tuesday 3rd of December 2013

Yum!! These will make great holiday sweets to have around the house. They look delicious!! Great post, Renee!

Renee

Saturday 7th of December 2013

They do make great treats to have around only thing is they disappear quickly. Well, you can always make more.

Cindys Recipes and Writings

Monday 2nd of December 2013

I'm always looking for a good way to use cranberries. I think the walnuts sound perfect for this, Renee!

Renee

Saturday 7th of December 2013

The walnuts add such a nice crunch to the crust and topping. Great with the cranberries too.

Courtney @ Neighborfood

Monday 2nd of December 2013

I love desserts like this...sweet and fruity with a good crunch!

Renee

Saturday 7th of December 2013

Thanks Courtney and I like a good sweet and fruity dessert too. The crunch is a bonus.

Julie @ Texan New Yorker

Monday 2nd of December 2013

This looks great - I actually prefer fresh cranberries over dried a lot of the time. :)

Renee

Saturday 7th of December 2013

I'm a fan of both fresh and dried cranberries and use the dried ones all throughout the year.