NUTTY Oatmeal CRANBERRY Bars

I can’t get enough of cranberries any time of the year. These Nutty Oatmeal Cranberry Bars will add colour and goodness to your baking trays. I like the tartness of cranberries and I use them in sweet and savoury dishes. They are available in grocery stores any time of the year. The frozen brands are just as good. Remember that if you use frozen fruit they will add moisture to your baking and you may have to adjust the wet ingredients.

What else can you do with cranberries?

Most of us use cranberries at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but this little berry punches a lot of flavour any time of they year. I coat them in sugar and use them for cake decorating. One of my favourite things to do with them is freeze them and serve in mimosas as tiny ice cubes. Many mornings I toss them in oatmeal and they go so well with roast pork or chicken. I used dried cranberries in couscous and rice. To make a wonderful cranberry butter take a bag of cranberries and add 2 tbsp maple syrup. Cook this over medium heat until it looks like jam. Once it is cooled whip with 1 cup of butter. This is the most delightful spread for Christmas morning brunch.

Another recipe on my blog with cranberries that I love https://recipesatmytable.com/cranberry-spiced-cake/

THE CRUST:

•  1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
•  1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats 
•  3/4 cup packed brown sugar 
•  1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
•  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
•  8 tablespoon salted butter, melted 
•  Juice of half a lemon juice 

THE TOPPING:

•  1 cup greek yogurt 
•  1 teaspoons vanilla extract 
•  Zest of half a lemon and its juice
•  3 tablespoon all-purpose flour 
•  1/2 cup packed brown sugar 
•  2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 
•  1 cup chopped walnuts
• white chocolate chips, optional
• festive sprinkles, optional

I whisked together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and cinnamon.

Then I stirred in the melted butter and the lemon juice. Use firm fresh lemons.

Take a 9 x 13 inch rectangular pan and grease it. Put the oat mixture into the pan and press down. I like to use plastic wrap to help. The mixture spreads evenly and with ease.

In another bowl combine the sour cream, vanilla, lemon zest, flour and brown sugar. Whip these ingredients until smooth Now spread the mixture evenly over the crust. If you omit the flour, this makes a great dipping sauce for your fruit platters.

Out of the oven and ready to cool.

If you choose to add the white chocolate, now is the time. I melted it in the microwave for 1 minute and here it is.

Once the pan cools down, cut and they can be frozen. They look so pretty.

Print

Nutty Oatmeal Cranberry Bars

Author Renata Solski

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 tablespoon butter, I use salted melted
• Juice of half a lemon juice
• 1 cup greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Zest of half a lemon
• 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 Cup melted white chocolate Optional
• festive sprinkles Optional

Instructions

1. Whisk together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and cinnamon.

2. Stir in the melted butter and the lemon juice.

3. Put the mixture into a greased 9 X 13 pan and press down using plastic wrap. This way it is evenly spread.
4. Next, combine the sour cream, vanilla, lemon zest, flour and brown sugar.
5. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust and place the frozen cranberries over the mixture by gently pressing them down.
6. Evenly spread the chopped nuts over the top,

7. Bake at 325 F for 50 minutes.

8. Let it cool in the pan before slicing.

9. After cooling, drizzle with white chocolate, if desired. You may use a few festive sprinkles now if you like.