Easy Christmas Fruitbars
Bursting with festive flavors and vibrant colors, these Easy Christmas Fruitbars are the perfect holiday treat! Featuring a buttery golden crust topped with a luscious mix of dried cranberries, raisins, apricots, crunchy nuts, warm spices, and a hint of zesty orange, these bars are both comforting and celebratory. Held together with creamy sweetened condensed milk, the topping creates a chewy, dessert-like texture that pairs beautifully with the crumbly base. Ready in under an hour, this simple recipe is ideal for quick holiday baking, whether you're prepping for a party platter, gifting homemade goodies, or simply indulging in seasonal sweetness. Serve these fruit-filled delights alongside a cozy mug of cocoa, and enjoy the magic of Christmas in every bite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 150 grams unsalted butter
- 100 grams light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200 grams all-purpose flour
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 100 grams dried cranberries
- 100 grams raisins
- 50 grams chopped dried apricots
- 50 grams chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 200 grams sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a 9x9 inch (23x23 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy using a hand or stand mixer.
Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
Gradually add the flour and salt to the butter mixture and mix until a crumbly dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to smooth it out.
Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from oven but leave the oven on while preparing the topping.
In a separate bowl, mix together the dried cranberries, raisins, chopped apricots, chopped nuts, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and orange zest.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the fruit and nut mixture and stir until everything is well coated.
Spread the fruit and nut mixture evenly over the baked crust, pressing down gently to ensure an even layer.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the topping is firm and lightly golden around the edges.
Allow the fruitbars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper overhang.
Slice into 12 bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3975 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 182.4 g | 234% | |
| Saturated Fat | 89.8 g | 449% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 400 mg | 133% | |
| Sodium | 1553 mg | 68% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 566.7 g | 206% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 27.6 g | 99% | |
| Total Sugars | 376.3 g | ||
| Protein | 51.1 g | 102% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 853 mg | 66% | |
| Iron | 15.2 mg | 84% | |
| Potassium | 2624 mg | 56% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
