Orange Cranberry Sugar Cookie Bars

These orange cranberry sugar cookie bars are a great addition to holiday cookie trays! The soft and chewy orange sugar cookie bars are frosted with an easy cranberry buttercream.

Cranberries make their way into our homes for Thanksgiving and tend to stick around through Christmas and into the winter season. This easy recipe combines a sweet orange sugar cookie bar with a sweet and tart cranberry buttercream.

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If you love sugar cookies, easy recipes and the sweet and tart pairing of orange and cranberry, you are in the right place! These soft and chewy sugar cookie bars are perfect for the holidays.

ingredients for orange cranberry sugar cookie bars

The orange sugar cookie bars need the usual baking suspects and then the addition of orange zest {this is my favorite zester} and an orange extract or food safe orange essential oil.

easy cranberry buttercream

The cranberry component of this recipe comes from the cranberry buttercream. This buttercream is an American buttercream and it gets it beautiful color and flavor from fresh or frozen cranberries. A cranberry puree is necessary and it needs some time to cool, so it's best to make this before you start the orange sugar cookie bars.

In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, granulated sugar and orange juice. Bring this mixture to a boil and then simmer for 12-15 minutes, using the back of a spoon or a fork to mash the cranberries as they soften and burst.

Once the puree is finished, allow it to cool completely. The puree can be made up to two days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Just allow to come to room temperature before adding to the buttercream.

how to make orange sugar cookie bars

Start by preheating your oven and lining a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or a hand held mixer), cream butter and cream cheese on medium speed until nice and combined.

Then add the granulated sugar, powdered sugar and orange zest and mix until pale and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla and orange extracts and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.

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With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and blend until just combined. I like to stop with a few flour streaks still showing and then use a spatula to combine the last bit of flour. The dough will be thick and sticky.

Use lightly moistened fingers to press the dough into the prepared pan and bake for 12-16 minutes or until edges are barely browned and they look a little underdone. You do not want to over bake these bars or they will be more like a cake and less like a soft sugar cookie.

Place the sugar cookie bars on a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting with the cranberry buttercream.

how to make cranberry buttercream

This is pretty much how I make most of my American buttercream recipes. I used a hand held mixer so I could create a video, but I often use a stand mixer for this task.

Easy Cranberry Buttercream by twosugarbugs on Jumprope.

Beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time. This does not have to be exact, just add the powdered sugar in increments. Mix on low speed until incorporated.

Add half the cranberry puree until incorporated. Then add the remaining cranberries and any remaining powdered sugar. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy.

Frost the cooled orange sugar cookie bars, cut and enjoy!

Remember to snap a picture and tag me @twosugarbugs on Instagram if you make these orange cranberry sugar cookie bars. It warms my heart to see you bring these recipes to life! Thank you for being here and happy baking!

Check out these other holiday inspired cookies ~

• Always Perfect Sugar Cookies
• Coconut Jam Thumbprints
• Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies {Santa Surprises}
• Brown Butter Peppermint Blossoms
• Soft Gingerbread Sugar Cookies

If you make this recipe {or any recipe!} from two sugar bugs please come back and leave a review and a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating.  I read every comment, and I LOVE hearing from you!