Cranberry Crisp Bars

This recipe turned out much different than I had planned, but it was still really good.  I had been hoping to create a coffee cake with a crispy cranberry struesel.  However, I didn't check my pantry for ingredients before I started my baking-oops!

After making the struesel, I went to the pantry to grab a box of French Vanilla cake mix and was bummed when I realized I didn't have one.

So I got out one of my favorite church cook books and found a recipe for a cake - Grandma Cake to be exact.  It has to be good with a name like that, right?!

They were yummy warm out of the oven with ice cream.  And they were nice and crunchy the next morning for breakfast (no ice cream!)

 

Cranberry Crisp Bars

3 cups Cranberry Crisp Cereal

3/4 c. brown sugar

1+1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 c. butter, melted

Mix this all together in medium bowl.  Set aside.

For Cake:

2 c. sugar

1/4 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

2 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

1 T. cinnamon

Mix the above ingredients in a large bowl in the order given.  Mix well.  Place half of this mixture in a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Top with half of cereal mixture.  Spoon remaining cake mixture over that. And top with remaining cereal mixture.  Sprinkle 1 cup white chocolate chips over crisp.  Bake 40-50 minutes at 350 F.

Streusel Apple Cranberry Pie

Do you ever get a recipe or an idea for a recipe that you just cannot get out of your head until you make it?  That's what happened with this pie.  It is a recipe I tried about a year ago for a friend and for some reason I started thinking about it a few weeks ago - and I couldn't stop thinking about it.  When I mentioned this to my dad he kindly offered to be my taste-tester if I really felt I needed to make this pie.  What a guy! 

The recipe calls for a store bought crust, but I like to make my own.  This time I tried using half shortening and half butter and I really liked it!  It was easier to handle and roll out and I think it tasted better too! 

My parents joined us for dessert Sunday night and the pie was a hit!

Now it's off to the grocery store...I'm starting my cookie baking this week - yay!!!

Streusel Apple Cranberry Pie

(Pampered Chef, Delightful Desserts)

Topping:

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c.brown sugar

3 T. butter or margarine

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (I used Pecans)

Crust and Filling:

1/2 package refrigerated pie crust

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. flour

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. dried cranberries (I used craisens)

2 tsp. orange zest

7-8 red baking apples

Preheat oven to 350 F.  For struesel topping, combine flour and brown sugar.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Stir in nuts.

For crust and filling, let pie crust stand at room temperature 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.  Add cranberries and zest.  Mix well and set aside.

Peel and slice apples, toss apples with sugar mixture until evenly coated.  Set aside.

Gently unfold crust onto floured surface.  Roll crust to 11 1/2 inch circle.  Place in pie pan and roll up the sides.  Spoon apple mixture into crust.  Sprinkle evenly with struesel topping.  Bake 50-55 minutes.  Cool at least two hours before serving.  (Tastes delicious with ice cream!)