Frosted Cranberry Squares
Elevate your holiday dessert table with these irresistible Frosted Cranberry Squares—a harmonious blend of buttery shortbread crust, tart bursts of fresh cranberries, and a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly festive and delightfully simple, this recipe lets the natural flavors of the cranberries shine while the luxurious frosting adds just the right touch of sweetness. With a prep time of just 20 minutes and easy-to-follow steps, these squares are ideal for everything from family gatherings to gift-giving. Serve these chilled for a refreshing treat that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious. Whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion, Frosted Cranberry Squares are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted butter
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 2 cups Fresh cranberries
- 1.5 cups Powdered sugar
- 4 ounces Cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons Milk
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Slowly fold in the all-purpose flour and salt. Continue mixing until a soft dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust.
Scatter the fresh cranberries evenly over the crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are lightly golden and the cranberries start to burst. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
While the crust and cranberries are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating thoroughly after each addition.
Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, and beat until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
Once the cranberry base has completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top using a spatula or knife.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set before slicing into squares and serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3363 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 99.4 g | 127% | |
| Saturated Fat | 56.7 g | 284% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 251 mg | 84% | |
| Sodium | 633 mg | 28% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 613.5 g | 223% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 20.9 g | 75% | |
| Total Sugars | 395.7 g | ||
| Protein | 28.2 g | 56% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 128 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 12.2 mg | 68% | |
| Potassium | 660 mg | 14% | |
*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.
