Description
Cranberry Bog Bars are a delightful dessert featuring chewy oat layers packed with tart whole berry cranberry sauce and sweetened condensed milk, topped with crunchy nuts. This easy-to-make treat combines a buttery crumbly base with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, ideal for any occasion or holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter, melted
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 ½ cups whole berry cranberry sauce
Toppings
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the quick oats, all purpose flour, brown sugar, and baking soda. Mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Add Butter and Create Crumble: Stir in the melted butter into the dry mixture until it becomes crumbly in texture, ensuring the oats and flour are coated.
- Form the Base Layer: Press half of the oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the crust.
- Layer Cranberry Sauce and Condensed Milk: Spread the whole berry cranberry sauce evenly over the oat crust. Then, drizzle the sweetened condensed milk evenly on top of the cranberry layer.
- Add Nut Topping and Oat Crumble: Sprinkle the chopped walnuts or pecans over the cranberry and condensed milk layers. Top everything with the remaining oat mixture, pressing lightly to cover.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and set.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly before cutting into 24 bars for serving.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts or pecans or substitute with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- Using whole berry cranberry sauce provides texture and bursting flavor; however, you can substitute with homemade cranberry jam if desired.
- For extra flavor, add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon or orange zest to the oat mixture.
- Ensure the bars are fully cooled before slicing to prevent crumbling.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
