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+ servings

Gluten Free Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Sandi Gaertner
A delicious holiday gluten free cranberry shortbread bar recipe
4.77 from 47 votes
an egg free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 186 kcal

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Ingredients
  

  • Crust
  • 1 ¼ cups gluten free flour blend
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons water crust (Add one then if you need more add accordingly)
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar topping
  • Berry layer
  • 1 package fresh cranberries
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
  • Make the crust first. Add all of the dry crust ingredients to a bowl. 
  • Add the cold butter. Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender.
  • Add the water to make a dough. Pour 3/4 of the crust into a greased 8x8 pan.
  • Press the dough down into the pan so that it is flat.
  • Bake only the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven.
  • In a small pot, add the cranberries, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Cook for 15 minutes on low heat until the cranberries all pop open. You can press a spoon against the berries to pop them. 
  • Let the cranberry mixture cool 5 minutes. 
  • Pour the cranberry mixture on top of the crust.
  • Take the remaining 1/4 crust mixture and add the brown sugar. Toss to mix.
  • Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture on top of the cranberry layer.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cranberry is bubbling.

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF, Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend, and Authentic Foods Multi Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
  2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  4. These bars will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 186kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 117mgPotassium: 4mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 236IUCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.