Yummy Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
These sweet and tangy cranberry cheesecake bars will make the perfect addition to your holiday gatherings!
Do you have certain desserts that bring back favourite memories from the holidays? These cranberry bars always bring up sentimental memories of family dinners during the holidays.
Growing up, I always remember homemade cranberry sauce making an appearance on the holiday table. I never thought much more of it then it was a nice addition to a turkey dinner.
Imagine my glee when I realized how delicious they are in sweet treats too. Two other cranberry favourites are these white chocolate cranberry shortbread and this orange cranberry bread, with subtle flavours of nutmeg and cinnamon, it is the perfect quick bread recipe for the holidays!
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What makes these cranberry cheesecake bars so good?
For starters, the buttery shortbread crust! So many cheesecakes start with a crumb crust like graham cracker. These decadent bars have a sturdy shortbread crust making them easy to pick up and eat.
Next, the creamy cheesecake filling. This creamy cheesy filling gets its’ subtle sweetness from sweetened condensed milk, which also lends itself to the smooth, velvety texture.
Finally, the slightly sweet/slightly tart cranberry layer that really gives them their delicious flavour. The cranberries are blended with just a little bit of brown sugar to create a bit of tart and a bit of sweet in every bite.
Top it all off with a light crumbly walnut topping and you have a real holiday hit!
A few tips to make preparing and serving easy peasy
- using canned whole cranberry sauce makes this recipe quick and easy
- gather and measure all your ingredients before you begin
- prepare the filling and topping while the crust is baking
- line your baking pan with parchment paper to make cutting and serving a breeze
- when it comes to slicing these squares it is best to use a sharp knife, run it under hot water and carefully wipe dry just before slicing for clean slices every time
- these cranberry cheesecake bars do need at least 3 hours refrigeration time to make cutting easier, you can make them the day before you plan to serve them and just keep refrigerated for up to 3 days
- I cut my pan of squares into about 16 bars, but they can be cut into larger squares that would make a decadent dessert, or adjust the size of the bars to your liking
- store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or wrap well and freeze for up to 2 months
Kitchen tools you will need
- Hand mixer and mixing bowls or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment
- spatula
- 9″ square baking pan
- parchment paper
- measuring cups and spoons
- an offset spatula is also makes spreading the fillings super easy
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Ingredients
- butter
- confectioners sugar
- cream cheese
- all purpose flour
- sweetened condensed milk
- lemon juice
- brown sugar
- corn starch
- canned whole cranberry sauce
This recipe comes together very easily and is perfect for beginners or seasoned bakers alike.
Three simple elements that are quick to prepare, and result in the most velvety bursts of cranberry, cheesecake and shortbread in every bite.
So, why not create some holiday memories. This might just become a family favourite requested year after year!
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Cranberry Cheesecake bars
These decadent cranberry cheesecake bars are easy to make, and you get a bite of velvety cheesecake, buttery shortbread and sweet and tangly cranberries in every bite.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup softened butter
- 1/3 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 package of cream cheese, softened
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 can whole cranberry sauce
- For the Topping
- 1/4 cup cold butter
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oen to 350 degrees. Line a 9 inch square pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of electric mixer cream together 3/4 cup softened butter and the confectioners sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add the flour, beating until well blended. Press into the bottom of prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- While crust is baking, in the bowl of electric mixer whip softened cream cheese, scraping down the sides of bowl as necessary. Gradually beat in the sweetened condensed milk and beat until smooth. Stir in lemon juice until well blended.
- In a small bowl, blend cranberry sauce with cornstarch and brown sugar.
- In medium bowl combine the topping ingredients and rub together with fingers until you have a crumbly mix.
- After removing baked crust from the oven, reduce temperature to 325 degrees. Pour cream mixture over the crust, spreading to completely cover.
- Carefully spoon cranberry mixture over the cream cheese layer.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping equally over the cranberry sauce.
- Return pan to oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until golden and firm.
- Remove from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before cutting into 16 bars.
Notes
This can be served when cooled and before refrigerated if cut into larger squares for a full dessert course.
These look delicious and I bet they taste delicious!
Thanks for the recipe!
You are welcome Linda! They have become a new favourite for us 🙂
I know there are no cranberry bogs anywhere near us! I have heard that they may have them in the eastern provinces though. I know, other than canned, they are hard to get fresh any other time of the year!
These look delicious! I pinned it on my Delicious Autumn Recipes board. Thanks for posting it, and your photos are beautiful, by the way!
Oh do those look fabulous Maureen! I see a new holiday treat in my future! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe, AND your gorgeous photos for inspiration!
I happened to be lucky enough to taste test these and have to say they were truly delicious!