Thank you to Nuts.com for sponsoring this post and donating to my local food pantry this holiday season.
7 ingredient 30 minute Cranberry Shortbread Bars are topped with walnuts and date caramel for the ultimate healthier guilt free dessert. Vegan, Gluten Free and Refined Sugar Free.
Everywhere I look everyone seems to be knee deep in holiday cookie baking. Everyone is posting about cookies, or wanting to eat cookies, or wishing somebody baked them cookies. Now, as a non cookie loving person, Iโm currently feeling like a bit of an outcast.
Personally, I donโt have anything against cookies โ I just never grew up eating them, my mom never baked them, and I only learned about the classic chocolate chip cookie from staying at friendsโ houses.
But, to go with the trend, to get into that holiday baking spirit, I had to at least share some sort of baked goods, right? Last week it was my coffee pecan pie bars, and this week itโs cranberry shortbread bars.
While I feel perfectly comfortable making all sorts of savory dishes, when it comes to sweets and baking, I have slightly less experience. This is going to change. I’m starting to experiment more with various flours, allowing me to make all sorts of different desserts that will be gluten-free, vegan and refined sugar free as well.
If I’m going to be baking, it’s only for the healthier desserts.
And that brings us to coconut flour. Have you cooked with coconut flour before? Coconut flour is a great grain free alternative to regular flour and is made from dried coconut meat which has then been ground. It is high in fiber and low in carbs. A win win if you ask me.
Coconut flour was to be the star ingredients of the crust for these cranberry shortbread bars. As for the other ingredients, I used:
- maple syrup
- coconut oil
- dried cranberries
- walnuts
- dates
- lemon
One thing you need to know when baking with coconut flour is that it is super absorbent, meaning you don’t need much of it. As a general rule of thumb you’ll only need 1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut flour to replace 1 cup of regular flour in a recipe.
For all my specialty flours, nuts, and dried fruit I go to Nuts.com, a family-owned company selling with high qualityย nuts, dried fruit, snacks, andย pantryย essentials. They carry over 3,000 products including artisan and hard-to-find products as well as hundreds of certified gluten-free and organic items. And this holiday season they have been generous enough to donate hundreds of dollars worth of staples to my local food pantry as well as host a giveaway right here on this blog!
To make the crust for these cranberry shortbread bars you just need to beat the maple syrup and coconut oil until smooth and creamy, before adding in the coconut flour. Mix by hand and pat down into a baking dish or pie pan (if you’re me and do not own any rectangular baking dishes) and bake for 10 minutes.
I’m telling you, this dessert comes together in no time! For the topping make the date caramel, by literally just blending dates in a high speed blender (see pictures in my caramel cheesecake post). For the star of these cranberry shortbread bars you’ll want to mix crushed walnuts with chopped cranberries, lemon zest and lemon juice.
Once the crust is baked, let it cool, add a thin layer of date caramel, sprinkle with the cranberry walnut mix and thin drizzle more date caramel on top.
That’s all you need for these delicious cranberry shortbread bars with crushed walnuts. Cut into bars and take a big bite.
I personally loved how delicate the coconut flour shortbread crust came out. With only three key ingredients the crust could not be easier to make. Walnuts and cranberries make a great combination – especially when mixed with lemon zest this made for the perfect topping. And then a drizzle of date caramel really tops things off!
And now I’m happy to share a GIVEAWAY! Nuts.com is giving away $100 of product on their site. Be sure to enter below!
7 ingredient 30 minute Cranberry Shortbread Bars are topped with walnuts and date caramel for the ultimate healthier guilt free dessert. Vegan, Gluten Free and Refined Sugar Free.
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1 cup walnuts crushed
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 12 whole dates pitted
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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In a bowl combine maple syrup and coconut oil. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add coconut flour and mix.
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Pat the shortbread crust into a rectangular baking dish or pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
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In a bowl combine walnuts, cranberries and lemon zest and juice.
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To make the date caramel - place dates in a high powered blender and process until smooth. Add a bit of water or coconut milk to thin it out a bit and help it blend, as needed.
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Allow the shortbread crust to cool. Remove from baking dish. Top with thin layer of date caramel. Top date caramel with the cranberry walnut mix.
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Drizzle date caramel on top.
Casey the College Celiac says
I LOVE Nuts.com – and sugar cookies!
Alexandra Robertson says
My favorite holiday dessert is peppermint chocolate pie.
Geena O'Banion says
I like the pies that always come around during this season; pumpkin, apple, blueberry, etc. It;s always so beautiful to see these desserts on the table.
Lane Phillips says
Anything with dark chocolate!
Sandy Klocinski says
One of my favorite desserts is the simplest: My grandfather always ate brick cheese and watermelon for dessert. The refreshing, sweet melon and the salty cheese is an enduring taste memory.
GENA BENNETT says
IT IS A TOSS UP BETWEEN THREE: GOLDEN BREAD PUDDING, MAGIC COOKIE BARS, AND RICOTTA CHEESECAKE ๐
Kayley says
Sugar cookies are my favorite during the holidays, which is interesting because normally I prefer chocolate desserts.
Antoinette M says
I love pumpkin pie!
Mary Beth Elderton says
My favorite hokiday dessert is my grandmother’s Sweet potato Pie
Kim O says
pecan pie
HEATHER D says
My fav holiday dessers are the pies. I love any pie.
danni lynn says
my favorite is pumpkin pie
Breanne Smith says
I would make christmas cookies!
Natalie says
My favorite holiday dessert is white chocolate Christmas Crack with cereal, pretzels, M&Ms, peanuts and white chocolate.
Kayte CookWatts says
Coconut oil fudge with pecans and cocoa nibs.
Pat says
My favorite is Lebkuchen.
Debbie says
Anything with chocolate!
Rajee Pandi says
My favorite holiday dessert is pumpkin pie
golden storm says
i love traditional english christmas pudding
Donna L says
My favorite is cherry cheesecake.
heather s says
pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream on top
shannon fowler says
My favorite holiday dessert are my moms cinnamon streusel muffins she makes every christmas morning.
Valencia says
My favorite holiday dessert is German Chocolate Cake.
shery says
fudge
Clem says
Snowball cookies
Sheila K. says
My favorite holiday dessert is pecan pie.
Cindy Peterson says
I adore my Dad’s divinity. He is not a cook but always made the best divinity.
Terri S. says
My favorite holiday dessert is Pffefferneuse cookies.
Jennifer Heintz says
Cherry Pie is the dessert for me. So good.
Ali says
My favorite holiday desert is pecan pie with whip cream.
Carly Smith says
A delicious apple pie <3
Ashley says
Cheesecake!
Margot S. says
my favorite holiday dessert is rice pudding with raspberry sauce
Christine Lee says
My favorite holiday dessert is pecan pie… It’s sinful.
Annmarie W. says
I love holiday cookies…especially peanut blossoms (the peanut butter cookies with a hershey kiss on top!)
Gina Freire says
pumpkin pie is the one for me.
al says
Pumpkin ismy favorite.
Sheila K. says
I love pecan pie!
bn100 says
pumpkin pie
Heidi Schuster says
I love but clusters (peanuts & mini marshmallows in chocolate)…YUM!
Heidi Schuster says
Nut clusters
Amanda lea says
Pumpkin pie is my fav!!!!
Laura Lanza says
My mom’s little nut roll cookies. They are so much better than the normal nut roll but it kills your back rolling out all the little balls. Of course I have to quadruple it because everyone loves them. Haven’t made them in years, I think it’s time to make some again. Miss you mom!
robin s. says
Banana pudding is my favorite.
Kelly Freeman says
pumpkin pie with whipped cream is my fave!
Nancy Bowers says
My favorite holiday dessert is pumpkin pie.
Marci says
pumpkin pie
Lauren Peterson says
I always loved my grandma’s peanut butter fudge…She made it so yummy!
tiffany dayton says
We love Pumpkin Pie for Christmas and Thanksgiving.With Coolwhip.
Selene Montgomery says
Favorite holiday dessert are the Christmas cookies we only bake during the holidays.
Robert Torres says
My favorite holiday dessert is apple pie with plenty of whipped cream.
Beth Eaton says
I absolutely LOVE that these are VEGANNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!
Kristi Price says
Homemade coconut cream pie, yum!
Cynthia Stacey says
I love old fashion magic bars
Lisa Andrews says
I Love Cheesecake
jberry says
Holidays sweets make me want Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Pam Flynn says
I love Cherry Cheesecake. My mom always made it and it is my favorite.
Laurie Belcher says
I love Pecan Pie around the holidays.
Christine Mayfield says
My family loves sugar cookies and gingerbread houses
Inge says
Fave holiday dessert: strawberry cheesecake
Erin Walsh says
I love pumpkin pie.
jennifer sparks says
Pecans, Pecan pie, pralines, and walnut fudge. I didn’t used to care for nuts in my youth but I love them and their health benefits now!! oh and brownies with walnuts!!
Cynthia D says
Looks delicious! Cranberry & Walnuts are two of my favorites!
Sheryl Holden says
Russian Tea Cakes
Erika JM says
My all time fave holiday desert is peppermint bark. So yummy.
Meg Tucker says
My favorite holiday dessert is Pecan Pie!
Hazell Perez says
My favorite holiday dessert is White Christmas Peppermint Layer Cake that I love to bake with my kids. Happy holidays!
Rosie says
My favorite holiday dessert is homemade cheesecake!
James Burk says
My favorite holiday treats are sugar cookies
melanie huttner says
I love carrot cake!
Marissa Womack says
My favorite Holiday Dessert is Eggnog Cookies!
Henry says
Pie, pecan or apple! Yum
Clark says
My wife is Syrian and we have Bacalava. Her grandmother used to make it but we buy it premade these days.
Susan Smith says
My favorites are pecan and pumpkin pie
Missy says
My favorite holiday dessert is pineapple cake.
sheila ressel says
My sister makes a nut pound cake that is out of this world! It’s my favorite.
Angelica says
My favorite holiday desert is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Unless peppermint hot cocoa counts, that’s my fuel all December!
Sarah Cool says
I love pumpkin pie
Susan Smith says
My favorite holiday desert is pecan pie.
Dee Johnson says
Pecan Pie is my favorite holiday dessert.
Fawn Bowden says
Too many, but toffee is one of my favorites!
Diana Penn says
All Cookies
Laura Hast says
Sweetpotatoe cupcakes with buttercream/cream cheese frosting and pralines on top omg sooooooo yuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyโโโโ
carl says
cheesecake
Mary Gardner says
My favorite holiday dessert is fresh coconut cake.
Kim Henrichs says
I absolutely love chocolate crinkle cookies!!
Christina A. says
Shortbread cookies are my absolute favorite!
Jessica W. says
My favorite holiday dessert is pumpkin pie!
Leah Shumack says
It’s all about the cookies right now!! Peanut Butter Blossoms are my favorite.
Kenia says
Pecan pie is my favorite holiday pie.
Nicole Lancaster says
My favorite holiday dessert is Black Forest Cake.