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Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars are perfect for your Thanksgiving dessert buffet. Or wait until after the holiday, and use leftover cranberry sauce to make them for your holiday cookie exchange in December.

This Cranberry Bars Recipe screams “holidays,” and makes a delicious treat for the season!

A stack of 3 cranberry cheesecake bars on a square white plate
Table of Contents hide
1 Thanksgiving Recipes
2 Why You Must Make
3 Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars
4 Tips for Making These Cranberry Bars:
5 Frequently Asked Questions
6 More Thanksgiving and Fall Recipes:
7 Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

Thanksgiving Recipes

Besides recipes for Thanksgiving Day, you’ll want recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers! At Chez Berg, turkey tetrazzini and turkey sandwiches are a given, but by day three, I need some inspiration. If you happened to buy an extra can of whole berry cranberry sauce, though, I can help. You’ll love these cranberry cream cheese bars!

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars on a white dessert plate with fresh cranberries and mint.

Why You Must Make

  • This is a most delicious way to used up leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving.
  • If you’re a fan of cheesecake, you’ll be a fan of these cheesecake bars.
  • The crumble topping is a tasty layer that adds some nice texture.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars

This is the time of year to stock up on canned pumpkin, an extra turkey for your freezer, and cranberry sauce. With sales rampant, it just makes sense. One the few fruits native to North America, the cranberry, is nearly always associated with Thanksgiving dinner.

When my parents would visit for the holiday, I’d always grab a can of cranberry sauce, my dad’s preference…while my mom and I favored the freshly ground relish, which also graced our table. But sitting on our lazy susan, behind a cupboard door, that can of jelled cranberries would often get forgotten due to all the craziness in the kitchen. These cranberry cheesecake bars can help take care of any leftover cranberry sauce after Thanksgiving!

So if you have a memory lapse like me or spot an extra can of cranberry sauce in your pantry, I hope you’ll try this Cranberry Dessert Recipe.

An oatmeal crust is topped with a cheesecake-like layer, followed by slightly sweetened cranberry sauce and an oat streusel. Sounds divine, doesn’t it?

3 Cranberry Cheesecake Bars stacked on a white dessert plate.

Tips for Making These Cranberry Bars:

I love making layered bar cookies. They’re an ideal way to serve a crowd with very little effort. One-pan can serve 24 people if you cut the dessert into 4 bars across the short side, then 6 bars across the long side.

  • To make these bars easy to release from the pan, line it with  Non-stick Aluminum Foil (affiliate link). The foil will act as a sling and you can remove the bars to a cutting board for easier slicing.
  • PRO-Tip: Chill the bars well before cutting to make the neatest slices.
  • Check out my post on How to Cut Perfect Cookie Bars for details.To make nice even layers, I use a Flat bottomed Meat Mallet (affiliate link) or measuring cup to smooth out the surface after patting the crust into the pan with my fingers. Then I use a Small Offset Spatula (affiliate link) to smooth the sauce and cheesecake layers.
  • PRO-Tip: Have your butter and cream cheese at room temperature for the best results. Both will be much easier to incorporate if not cold from the refrigerator.
  • PRO-Tip: Set your cream cheese out on the counter at least an hour before you begin baking. If you need to help them along, gently microwave for just 15-20 seconds. You must remove the foil wrap on the cream cheese before you microwave to avoid sparks and fire from the arcing of the waves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Slice Cheesecake Bars?

Chill them first, then use a clean knife to cut them into squares your desired size. Wipe the knife clean between slices to make the most pristine slices.

How Long Do Cheesecake Squares Last?

As long as your cheesecake has not been left out at room temperature for more than an hour, they can be kept safely in your refrigerator for up to a week.

Can Cheesecake Bars Be Frozen?

Cheesecake freezes well. First, chill and slice into slices. Then place the bars in a freezer-safe storage container in a single layer. If you’d like to stack your bars, freeze a single layer, and when those are frozen, place a layer of parchment or wax paper on top of your bars and add a second layer. Defrost in the refrigerator before serving.

More Thanksgiving and Fall Recipes:

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3 cranberry cream cheese bars stacked on a small white plate with a sprig of mint.
The Recipe:

Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

These rich cranberry cheesecake bars are a delicious holiday treat. Use your leftover whole berry cranberry sauce and make this festive, delicious dessert.

5.0 Stars (3 Reviews)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups quick oats
  • ¾ cups plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar, divided
  • 1 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 (16 ounces) can whole berry cranberry sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13 x 9 baking pan with non-stick foil.
  2. In a large bowl combine flour, oats, ¾ cup sugar, and butter; mix until crumbly. Set aside 1 ½ cups crumbs for the topping, and press the rest into the prepared pan.
  3. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely.
  4. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually mix in condensed milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.
  5. Spread over the cooled crust.
  6. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar, cornstarch, and cranberry sauce. Spoon over cream cheese mixture.
  7. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes.
  9. Let cool completely on a wire rack, then chill before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Since these bars contain dairy products, it's best to store them covered in the refrigerator.

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American