Cranberry Jam Bars

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces (340g) fresh or frozen cranberries

Preparation Time:

20 minutes

Cooking Time:

30-35 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 (easy)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Press half of the dough into the prepared pan.
6. In a medium bowl, combine the cranberries with 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar. Toss to coat.
7. Spread the cranberry mixture over the pressed dough.
8. Crumble the remaining half of the dough over the cranberries.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
10. Let cool before cutting into bars.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 220 per bar
• Fat: 11g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Protein: 3g

Dish Characteristics:

• Tart and sweet
• Cranberry flavor throughout
• Crumbly crust
• American dessert classic

User Comments:

• "These cranberry jam bars were a hit at my holiday party! They were so delicious and easy to make."
• "The tartness of the cranberries balances out the sweetness of the dough perfectly."
• "I love the crumbly texture of the crust."
• "These bars are perfect for any occasion."
• "I can't believe how easy these were to make! I will definitely be making them again."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• If you don't have fresh cranberries, you can use frozen cranberries. Just thaw them before using.
• To make the bars gluten-free, use gluten-free flour.
• For a sweeter bar, add more sugar to the cranberry mixture.