Description
These Cranberry Lemon Bars are bright, buttery, and beautifully tart, with a tender shortbread crust, creamy lemon filling, and jammy cranberry topping. This easy dessert recipe is perfect for holiday baking, brunch ideas, party trays, sweet snack prep, and simple food ideas when you want a colorful make-ahead treat that slices cleanly and tastes fresh.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix melted butter, flour, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and vanilla until a soft crumbly dough forms.
3. Press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges.
4. Add cranberries, sugar, water, lemon juice, and cornstarch to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring often, until thick and jammy.
5. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, flour, and salt until smooth.
6. Pour the lemon filling over the warm crust.
7. Spoon the cranberry topping over the lemon filling and gently swirl or spread it across the surface.
8. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, until the edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle.
9. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
10. Lift from the pan, slice into bars, and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice for the cleanest citrus flavor.
Chill the bars completely before slicing for neat, bakery-style squares.
Dust with powdered sugar right before serving so it stays bright and pretty.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 48 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 27g
- Sodium: 62mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 73mg
Keywords: Cranberry Lemon Bars, lemon bars, cranberry dessert, easy dessert recipe, holiday baking, brunch ideas, sweet snack, dessert bars