For me, it’s the season of shortbread. Throughout the year I make lots of cookies but during fall I tend to make more shortbreads, bars, squares, and barks. Is it just me or do these just make you feel so much like Christmas?
Why make these bars
These bars are sweet and crumbly with a biscuit-like texture and are the easiest gifts you can make when you are short on time. You don’t need any fancy mixers or pans. Just a bowl and a spatula are all it takes to mix all ingredients and bake for 20 minutes. Now, I must warn you that these are extremely addictive so if you like shortbread, make extra or you won’t have any to add to the gift bags. These do make simple, easy, and wonderful gifts for the holidays to family and friends.
Ingredients and substitutes
Semolina – is the coarse purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used to make pasta and couscous. These days it is available in most supermarkets in the baking aisle. If you can’t find semolina you may also use rice flour. The rice flour gives a more crispy texture to the squares while the semolina has a crumbly texture. Both are equally delicious. Unsalted butter – I always use unsalted butter for baking but if salted butter is all you have – use it and just omit the salt in the recipe. Vanilla – A good quality vanilla goes a long way especially in recipes like this where its flavor really shines thru. Cranberries – I love using dried as well as semi-dried plump cranberries. You can also use other dry fruits of course. Try dates, figs, and apricots. Just chop them into small pieces. Powdered sugar – this works great because it instant is absorbed into the butter enhancing that crumbly texture.
How to make cranberry shortbread bars
Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 4. Line a 9 x 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream the butter and powdered sugar. Add the egg and combine well. Next, add the semolina, salt, and vanilla extract. Followed by the flour. Combine well. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly.
Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges start to get slightly golden. Remove and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. While still warm – cut into 16 squares as shown in the video Enjoy!
Variations
Orange – Add a teaspoon of orange zest and ¼ teaspoon of orange extract to give the bars an orange flavor. Cream cheese – Frost the bars with a cream cheese frosting once baked and cooled. Chocolate – Drizzle some melted white chocolate over the bars once baked and cooked.
More bars recipes
Apple Pie Bars with Crumble Best Cherry Bars or Best Apricot Crumble Squares Cranberry Shortbread Squares Chocolate Pecan Squares Chocolate Marzipan Squares – Christmas Treats Recipe for Pecan Pie Brownies or Pecan Blondies See all bars and blondies or brownies
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