Cranberry Crumb Bars (12 Days of Christmas Treats)

Cranberry Crumb Bars

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cranberry Crumb Bars!
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Chocolate Crinkles!

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Cinnamon Roll Cookies!
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Microwave Peanut Brittle!
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Almond Lace Cookies!


When I first saw these bars forever ago on Smitten Kitchen I knew I had to make them. She used blueberries, and I considered using cherries in the spring, but I had a feeling that these would make beautiful Christmas treats using cranberries instead. I was so right. I was a bit frightened that the cranberries might be too tart since they're simply washed and layered in the pan whole, but my fears subsided with one bite. The cranberries still offered my cheeks that ting of sourness, but the fabulous crust and just-sweet-enough topping took this dessert to a more sophisticated level. I'll definitely be trying this recipe with blueberries in the future; blueberry bars would be a wonderful breakfast or going-away gift for houseguests. But I have to say that for a more elegant dessert I'd have to go with cranberries!

Blueberry (Cranberry) Crumb Bars at Smitten Kitchen