Cranberry Bars

Recipe View Prepare Cranberry Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the cranberries, white sugar, and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens into a luscious sauce (approximately 15 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Recipe View Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). This step is crucial for even baking.

Recipe View Combine Base Ingredients: In a large bowl, blend the yellow cake mix, melted butter, and eggs until well combined. Incorporate the rolled oats, brown sugar, ground ginger, and cinnamon, mixing until evenly distributed. This mixture forms both the base and the crumble topping.

Recipe View Assemble the Bars: Reserve approximately 1 1/2 cups of the oat mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish, creating a firm, even crust. Spread the cooled cranberry sauce evenly over the crust. Crumble the reserved oat mixture over the cranberry layer, distributing it as uniformly as possible.

Recipe View Bake: Bake in the preheated oven until the top is lightly golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 35 to 40 minutes. Keep a close eye to prevent over-browning.

Recipe View Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 40 minutes before slicing into 24 squares. This allows the filling to set, making for cleaner cuts.