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!

Nutriscore Rating: 50/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 12

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

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy.

Step 3

Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.

Step 4

Slowly fold in the all-purpose flour and salt. Continue mixing until a soft dough forms.

Step 5

Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the crust.

Step 6

Scatter the fresh cranberries evenly over the crust.

Step 7

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.

Step 8

While the crust and cranberries are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.

Step 9

Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating thoroughly after each addition.

Step 10

Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, and beat until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.

Step 11

Once the cranberry base has completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top using a spatula or knife.

Step 12

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set before slicing into squares and serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1167.3 grams (1167.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3363

Total Fat 99.40g	127%
Saturated Fat 56.70g	284%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 251mg	84%
Sodium 633mg	28%
Total Carbohydrate 613.50g	223%
Dietary Fiber 20.90g	75%
Total Sugars 395.70g
Protein 28.20g	56%

Vitamin D 13IU	65%
Calcium 128mg	10%
Iron 12mg	68%
Potassium 660mg	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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 25.8%

Protein: 3.3%

Carbs: 70.9%