Cranberry Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

These bars look and taste fancy.  Pretty with their cranberry topping, you could easily serve them at a special event or gathering.  The cream cheese frosting is to die for, and could be used to frost any number of bars or cakes.  Make sure to cover them well in the frig or they will become dry and hard—I always double wrap them.

 

¾ cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup sour cream                               Frosting:

½ t. almond extract                           2-8oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened

½ t. vanilla extract                             ¼ cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups flour                                     1 t. vanilla

1 t. baking powder                             2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup white baking chips                  ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped

1 cup dried cranberries

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

 

Preheat oven to 350 .  In large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Gradually beat in eggs, sour cream and extracts.  In small bowl whisk flour and baking powder together; beat into creamed mixture.  Fold in baking chips, cranberries and nuts.  Spread into greased 15 x 10 x 1-in baking pan.  Bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely on wire rack.  For frosting, in a small bowl beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth.  Beat in confectioners’ sugar and spread over top.  Sprinkle with chopped cranberries.  Cut into bars or triangles.  Refrigerate leftovers.  Yield:  4 dozen. Enjoy!