Since many of our holiday gatherings are a little smaller than usual this year, there’s good chance you’ve got leftover cranberry sauce. Here’s a new way to use it to make a delicious treat: cranberry sauce bars!
Ingredients needed
- Cranberry sauce
- Egg
- Flour
- Sugar
- Butter
- Baking soda
How to make these crumble bars filled with cranberry sauce
This recipe is based upon my red, white and blueberry crumble bars I made for 4th of July. Like Thanksgiving, this is another strictly American holiday, now that I think of it. . .
The red, white and blue version makes a 9 x 13 pan. I wanted a smaller amount this time, so reduced it down to an 8 x 8 size. I simply made half the amount of the crust. The only tricky part to this is that the original recipe called for one egg. So, for this smaller recipe, we need half an egg. Awkward. I used just the yolk and added the extra egg white to my scrambled eggs for breakfast. 😃
Mix up the dough and press half of it into the pan. Then, spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the dough. Crumble the remaining dough over the cranberry layer. Then bake for about 30-35 minutes, until the top is slightly brown. Cool before cutting.

The recipe states 2 cups of sauce but as you can see, that does make a pretty thick layer of sauce. Plus, when you have leftovers it’ll probably be something like 1.2167 cups. Right? Feel free to use whatever amount you have; I’m guessing one cup would be the absolute minimum. Or you could supplement the amount by adding a little jam. I think a raspberry-cranberry combination would be extremely delightful! This is a very flexible recipe so feel free to experiment a little.

These cranberry sauce bars are a great way to enjoy your holiday leftovers!
Cranberry Sauce Crumble Bars
Ingredients
Dough
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 egg yolk
Filling
- 2 cups cranberry sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Prepare an 8×8 pan by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, flour and baking powder. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. Dough will be crumbly.
- Press half the dough into the prepared pan.
- Spread the cranberry sauce over the dough to make an even layer. Crumble remaining dough over the cranberry layer.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
What a great way to use an overstock of cranberries.
I re-purposes them for a delicious treat!
What a great way to use leftover cranberries! It’s an easy recipe to follow as well! Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome, I hope you try these soon. 🙂
This is brilliant! Two of my favorite things and of course I have leftover cranberry sauce. I am making these today!
I hope you love them like I do!
This is such a great idea to use up leftover cranberry sauce! Looks delicious!
Thank you, I hope you get the chance to try them, they are super tasty!
This would have to be good. I love cranberry sauce, but only eat it during the holidays. I could make these bars all year and enjoy cranberry sauce more. 🙂
Exactly, cranberry sauce should be enjoyed year-round!
If I make the sauce I was planning for Christmas, I’m sure it will be used for these, mainly. They look mouth-watering!
Perfect for any leftover sauce – I like to make extra, just to make these!
I can almost taste with sweet tartness of these bars. Such a brilliant way to use up that leftover cranberry sauce!!
That’s exactly it Cindy, both sweet and tart in every bite!
A great way of using up leftover cranberry sauce!
It’s my favorite solution for that particular leftover!
Love this recipe! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it!
Ooo, smart idea on how to use cranberry leftovers! These look so yummy!
It’s definitely a yummy way to re-purpose!
How easy and delicious!
Yes, both these!
My mouth is watering. I want to eat that!
I hope you try them soon!
This recipe is unbelievably good! So festive, and so easy!
The best kind, right? Happy Holidays!
What a tasty way to enjoy leftover cranberry sauce! These look oh so delicious.
It’s the perfect way to use that sauce!
This is such a great idea to make cranberry bars!! I always wonder what to do with leftovers and now I know! Saving this to make this weekend!
I hope you like them as much as I do!
Wow, these were fabulous! I had leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving and these were the perfect treat!
I’m so glad you liked them Tawnie!
Omg what a creative and easy way to use up all that leftover cranberry sauce I have from Thanksgiving!! We will be making this recipe this weekend!
Enjoy!