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Baked cranberry oatmeal bar cut into squares.

Cranberry Oatmeal Bars

Cranberry Oatmeal Bar Recipe | Easy Recipe with Fresh Cranberries | Gluten-Free Option | Thanksgiving Dessert | Christmas

Course Dessert
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 12 bars

Ingredients

For the Base

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (For gluten-free: replace with gluten-free baking flour)
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned oats (For gluten-free: replace with gluten-free oats)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cool butter, cut into 8 pieces
  • 3 tablespoons water

For the Filling

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (6 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Prepare Pan and Heat Oven. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9-inch pan with cooking spray.

  2. Prepare the Base and Topping. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, chopped almonds, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.

  3. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or combine ingredients in a food processor bowl and pulse in butter), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
  4. Remove half the mixture. Stir in 3 tablespoons of water. Press mixture into the bottom of prepared pan. Set remaining crumb mixture aside.
  5. Prepare the Filling. In medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cornstarch. (This keeps the cornstarch from clumping.) Add the cranberries. Spoon evenly over crust.

  6. Top with Remaining Mixture. Spoon reserved crumb mixture evenly over the filling.

  7. Bake Until Brown. Bake until the top is light golden brown and the filling bubbles, about 40 minutes.

  8. Cool and Cut. Cool completely. Refrigerate until chilled. Cut into squares. Store covered in refrigerator.