I am such a shortbread fan and these Cranberry and Almond Shortbread Bars are one of my top favorite choices for flavor. Soft and buttery shortbread with a fruity, tangy chew from chopped cranberries and orange zest then drizzled with a soft and creamy, almond glaze over the top. Finally, cut into pieces for perfect individual shortbread bars that are just wonderful.
To make Cranberry and Almond Shortbread Bars, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 350 °F and line an 8x8-inch baking sheet with baking parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat ½ cup of butter with ¾ cup of sugar until light and fluffy.
Add 1 large egg and beat to combine.
Add 1 teaspoon of dried orange peel, ½ teaspoon of almond extract and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir to mix through, scraping down the sides as needed.
Add 1½ cups of all-purpose flour and mix on low speed until just combined.
Fold in ¾ cups of dried cranberries, chopped into bits and mix until evenly combined into a sticky dough.
Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and with lightly floured hands, gently press into the sides.
Bake in the preheated oven for 28-30 minutes until the top is puffy and the edges are a very light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, sift 1 cup of powdered sugar and add 2 teaspoons of milk or cream. Whisk until combined into a smooth glaze then stir in ¼ teaspoon of almond extract.
Drizzle the prepared glaze over the shortbread then cut into squares or triangles, as you wish.
Serve and enjoy! Store in an airtight container for no more than 5 days.
What do you think of our Cranberry and Almond Shortbread Bars recipe? Have you tried making shortbread before? Let us know if our recipe helped you to create the perfect bake. Share some of your creations with us and tag us online using our hashtag #cookmerecipes when you try our recipes!
Superb! These Cranberry and Almond Shortbread Bars are a lovely treat. I made them for my hubby's birthday, and he loved them!
Delicious! I made these bars for a family gathering, and everyone loved them. The mix of sweet cranberries and creamy almond glaze was such a hit. Will definitely bake them again!
Simply divine. I made these bars for my tea time and everyone loved them. The blend of cranberries and almonds is just perfect. I might have eaten too many myself, but they are worth it.
Delicious and easy!
Delicious! I made these bars for my daughter’s birthday and they were a hit. The tangy cranberries paired with the almond glaze were just perfect. Everyone asked for the recipe, and I felt like a star for sharing it!
Making these Cranberry and Almond Shortbread Bars feels like baking a hug. I remember whipping them up for a small holiday gathering. The blend of sweet and tart is delightful, and everyone loved them. They disappeared so quickly, it was like magic!
Merveilleux!
Delicious! Made these bars for a family picnic and they vanished within minutes. A fruity twist everyone loved.
Delicious!
Delish! Made these bars to impress my family during a game night, and they vanished in seconds. The combo of cranberry and almond is just perfection.
Superb berry goodness!
OMG, I tried these bars at a family picnic, and everyone was raving! The cranberry and almond combo is dope. Super easy to whip up too. Totally making these again for my book club!
Super tasty bars! My kids loved 'em, for real!
Simply the best!
This looks delicious!