Cranberry Crumble Bars - Browned Butter Blondie

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey with our Cranberry Crumble Bars, a delightful treat that perfectly marries the rich, buttery goodness of a browned butter blondie with the tartness of fresh cranberries and a crunchy crumble topping. These bars are not just a dessert; they are an experience, evoking the warm, cozy feelings of fall and winter gatherings. Whether you're preparing for a holiday celebration or a casual get-together with family and friends, these bars are sure to impress with their beautiful layers and contrasting flavors.

Cranberry Crumble Bars - Browned Butter Blondie

Discover the joy of baking with our delicious Cranberry Crumble Bars! These treats feature a rich, buttery blondie base made from browned butter, paired perfectly with tart cranberries and a crunchy crumble topping. Ideal for holiday celebrations or cozy gatherings, this recipe is easy to follow and guarantees a delightful mix of flavors and textures. Share the warmth of the season with these scrumptious bars! #CranberryCrumble #DessertRecipe #BakingJoy #FallBaking #HomemadeDelights

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Ingredients

For the Blondie Layer:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white chocolate chips (optional)

For the Cranberry Filling:

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Crumble Topping:

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cold butter, cubed

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.

Brown the Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring constantly until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma (about 5 minutes). Be careful not to burn it. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Prepare the Blondie Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Fold in white chocolate chips if using.

Make the Cranberry Filling: In a medium bowl, combine cranberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and ground cinnamon. Toss until the cranberries are well-coated.

Prepare the Crumble Topping: In another bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Assemble the Bars:

- Spread half of the blondie batter evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan.

- Evenly distribute the cranberry filling over this layer.

- Drop spoonfuls of the remaining blondie batter on top of the cranberry layer using a spatula or spoon (it won’t cover completely).

- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over everything.

Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden and a toothpick inserted in the blondie layer comes out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter.

Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before lifting them out with the parchment paper. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into squares or bars.

Enjoy your delicious Cranberry Crumble Bars!

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour | Servings: 12-16 bars