Cranberry Bars with Shortbread Crust using leftover cranberry sauce. Cranberry shortbread bars made in a loaf pan to serve two.
Or, what I like to call Leftover Cranberry Sauce Bars.
You're going to have leftover cranberry sauce in a few weeks, this much I know.
I'm not sure why we keep insisting on making large batches of cranberry sauce, when in reality, people take approximately 1.73 teaspoons of cranberry sauce per pound of turkey on their plate.
I'm not complaining about leftover cranberry sauce one bit. I like to swirl it into my small cheesecake recipe (oh please make that with a gingersnap crust!). I like a big scoop of it on a grilled cheese made with Brie (also leftover from the cheese tray on Turkey Day!). And while I don't eat much pork, this recipe for cranberry pork chops is a good one--I stocked my freezer with two batches of it just days before I went into labor.
I might have just talked you into making a big batch of cranberry sauce.
I made these cranberry bars in a loaf pan with 1 ½ cups of leftover cranberry sauce. Scale up or down as you need.
The only thing not up for debate with this recipe is the powdered sugar sprinkle. Have a heavy hand, without apologies.
What kind of cranberry sauce can I use to make these cranberry bars?
I feel like I should say that the success of your cranberry bars depends on how good your cranberry sauce is. Fresh cranberry sauces and compotes made with apples, oranges, and nuts are all welcome here.
Personally, I make my cranberry sauce with orange zest, Cointreau and a heavy dose of vanilla bean. I highly recommend it, but just in case you don't make it my way, go ahead and stir in a little vanilla extract into your leftover sauce.
But, really, you do you--make your family's favorite sauce (just please don't crack a can), and then press the leftovers on top of my small batch shortbread crust. It's going to be great!
If you still find yourself with too many bags of cranberries, you have to make my slow cooker cranberry butter.
I hope these cranberry bars give you something to do with all of that leftover cranberry sauce!
If you have leftover dried cranberries, make my cranberry orange cookies!
Leftover cranberry sauce cookie bars.Cranberry Bars
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
5
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 456Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 220mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 1gSugar: 60gProtein: 3g
Melanie says
I can't believe your dad seriously stays up all night smoking the turkeys. That's amazing! But it is nice that you were able to also celebrate a simple holiday with your mom. I hope this year was equally as nice and relaxing! These bars look so great, by the way. I love the tartness of cranberries in sweet desserts.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I was searching for some recipes to use leftover cranberry sauce with, and came across this. It sounds SO good. My mom still uses the canned cranberry sauce, but my MIL made some fresh this year and we have a big bowl of it left in the fridge. I think these are happening!
UrMomCooks says
Thanx for your authentic Texas comment today!!! Made my day! In other news, wish I still had cranberry sauce left, cuz this is a great idea!
Chef Bee says
I also thought shortbread was missing something. Turns out it was cranberry. Thanks for the recipe.
Plan B
Salah@myhealthiestlifestyle says
omg those look sooooo amazing!!!! I adore cranberry sauce :-) and shortbread....great combo!
Coro says
I made this for my mister over Thanksgiving and it was a hit! I love this website and have made so many tasty recipes from. Thank you so much for sharing your yumminess with us!!
Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss says
I have a feeling I'm going to prefer all of your ideas for where to put cranberry sauce rather than the original cranberry sauce next to the turkey on the plate setup. These bars sound delish!
Christina Lane says
haha, that's funny :)
Shawnna Griffin says
hey girl this looks so yummy!
allison says
Oh yes, YUM! Although after eating my cranberry sauce (cranberry, raspberries, orange, and a wee bit of ginger) off the spoon and then stirred into leftover mashed potatoes and on open faced turkey sammies, I rarely have leftovers. BUT BUT, I would be so inclined to save some to make these.
E.V. says
These bars sound great; can't wait to try them. However, recipe proof reader falling down on the job: where does that 1/4 t of salt go. Since you are using salted butter, I would assume it goes in with the cranberry sauce and vanilla to bring up the flavor.
Christina Lane says
heh, I'm a one-woman show. It goes in with the crust. I'll update now. Thanks for catching this! :)