Best Cranberry Lemon Blondies Recipes

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CRANBERRY-LEMON COOKIES



Cranberry-Lemon Cookies image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield about 30 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest, plus 1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped (about 12 ounces)
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Beat in the flour mixture until completely combined, then fold in 1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries.
  • Scoop the dough into golf ball-size balls and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 unlined baking sheets. Gently press the remaining 1/2 cup chopped cranberries into the tops of each cookie. Bake until slightly golden around the edges, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the cookies and transfer to a rack set over a baking sheet.
  • Make the glaze: Put the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle on the cookies and let set.

CRANBERRY LEMON BARS



Cranberry Lemon Bars image

Cranberries that are quick-cooked into jam add a striking magenta color and complex tartness to these two-toned lemon bars. A thin layer of the classic lemon filling coats the cranberry mix like icing, and lemon zest boiled with the berries echoes the citrus taste of the lemony top. (Its pectin also thickens the jam.) To achieve a sturdy crust that isn't tough, melted butter is stirred into a flour blend and simply patted into the pan. That vanilla cookie base, generously salted to balance the tangy sweetness on top, comes out crisp and holds up well even as the bars keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Provided by Genevieve Ko

Categories     cookies and bars, dessert

Time 1h

Yield 2 dozen bars

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (12-ounce/340-gram) bag fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup/150 grams granulated sugar
2 to 3 large lemons
Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups/190 grams all-purpose flour
1/3 cup/65 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled
1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
1/4 cup/30 grams all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
Confectioners' sugar (optional)

Steps:

  • Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
  • Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
  • Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
  • While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
  • Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
  • Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
  • Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops just before serving.

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