Cranberry Cherry Bars (With Pudding and Refrigerated Pie Crust)

Cranberry Cherry Bars are a delicious and festive layered treat that combines the tartness of fresh cranberries with the sweetness of canned cherry pie filling. Layered with flaky pie crust, instant pudding, fruit, and whip, this easy recipe has a ton of shortcuts, making it a great dessert choice for the busy winter holidays.

Cranberry Cherry Bars are a Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert favorite. With two shades of red that really pop on the plate, these sweet and creamy, super tasty bars are so easy to make and always get raves.

The base is a flaky, buttery pie crust (store bought for convenience), and is the only step in the recipe that bakes in the oven. Once cooled, the crispy crust is topped with instant cheesecake pudding, and a tart and sweet cranberry and cherry glazed topping that really shines under sparkly holiday lights.

Before serving, top individual cranberry squares with Easy Homemade Whipped Cream and add a few Candied Cranberries to the plate for the perfect finishing touch.

So easy, festive, and delicious, this is a sweet treat that you'll get requests for each holiday season--guaranteed.

🥘Just 8 Basic Ingredients Needed

• refrigerated pie crust- I like Pillsbury, make sure you're using the kind that comes rolled up (usually two in a box)
• fresh or frozen cranberries- if using frozen, do not defrost
• sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, water- ingredients for the fruit sauce
• cherry pie filling- do not use reduced sugar
• instant cheesecake flavored pudding + 2% milk- for a creamy pudding layer; Amazon and Walmart sell this flavor

See recipe card for quantities.

🔪How To Make Cranberry Cherry Bars

1. Step 1: Roll out the pie crust to make a rectangle; then press it into a prepared 13x9 pan and bake; allow to cool.

2. Step 2: Combine cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a saucepan; add water and bring to a boil; cook until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and add cherry pie filling; chill.

3. Step 3: Just before assembling, whisk the pudding and milk until thickened; spoon over cooled crust.

4. Step 4: Spread the chilled fruit mixture over the pudding; allow the dessert to set in the fridge before cutting into squares and topping with whip.

Hint: You'll want to use a nonstick saucepan when you make the cranberry sauce, which gets super sticky as it gels.

🥣Easy Ingredient Substitutions

• Pudding - vanilla instant pudding can be used instead of cheesecake
• Milk - I prefer 2%, but any percentage will do; you can also use half and half for an even creamier option

📖Cranberry Cherry Bars Variations

• Cranberry Raspberry Squares - Use raspberry pie filling and lemon instant pudding for a fruity twist
• Cranberry Apple Squares - Swap out the cherry pie filling for canned apple pie filling and use vanilla or caramel instant pudding for a cozy, fall-inspired flavor profile.
• Black Forest Cranberry Bars - Swap the cheesecake pudding for chocolate instant pudding and garnish with chocolate shavings over the whipped cream for a rich, decadent holiday treat.

See Cranberry Mini Pies for another easy dessert that uses cranberries and instant pudding.

For additional ideas with cherry pie filling, check out Black Forest Pie, Chocolate Cherry Cake, and Cherry Crumble.

🍽Essential Equipment Needed

• rolling pin
• 13x9 metal pan (well greased or lined with parchment paper)
• measuring cups & measuring spoons
• medium nonstick saucepan
• whisk
• medium mixing bowl
• spreading spatula

🍶Storing Your Cranberry Cherry Dessert Squares

Store Cranberry Cherry Bars in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Best enjoyed within 3 days.

Freezing isn't recommended.

🗨️Cranberry Cherry Bars FAQ

🥄More Easy Bar and Cookie Recipes

Looking for other like this? Try these, or head over to our Cookies and Bars page:

🍴Pairing

These are some other favorites to serve at Christmas with Cranberry Cherry Bars. For more holiday treats, visit our Holiday Baking page:

📋Recipe With Step-By-Step Instructions

Easy and Delicious Cranberry Cherry Dessert Bars

Kitchen Ready Betty

These vibrant cranberry cherry dessert squares feature a sweet and tart fruit topping layered over rich cheesecake pudding. Made with time-saving shortcuts like a refrigerated pie crust, they are the perfect effortless treat for a busy holiday season.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Desserts, Holidays

Servings 12

Calories 294 kcal

Equipment

• Rolling Pin
• 13x9 metal pan (well greased or lined with parchment paper)
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• medium nonstick saucepan
• whisk
• medium mixing bowl
• spreading spatula

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 refrigerated pie crust at room temperature
• 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries do not defrost before using
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup water
• 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling
• 2 (3.4 oz) boxes instant cheesecake flavored pudding may substitute vanilla
• 2 cups milk I use 2%
• whip for topping

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 425℉.
• Roll out the pie crust to make a rectangle; then press into the bottom of a prepared 13x9 pan. Prick generously and bake for 9-11 minutes or until light golden brown; cool.
• In a nonstick saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon; mix.
• Stir in water, bring to a boil; cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until mixture thickens and cranberries pop.
• Remove from heat; add cherry pie filling and mix well. Cover and cool in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Just before assembling, whisk the pudding and milk until mixture thickens. Spread pudding onto cooled crust and smooth to edges.
• Spread chilled fruit mixture on top, taking time to spread it evenly so that the pudding is completely covered.
• Place the dessert in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour to set before slicing and serving.

Notes

Before serving, top individual cranberry squares with Easy Homemade Whipped Cream and add a few Candied Cranberries to the plate for the perfect finishing touch.

It's important to make sure the dessert is set before slicing into squares. If you're short on time, pop the assembled dessert in the freezer (covered) for 30-45 minutes to set faster.

Store Cranberry Cherry Dessert Squares in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Best enjoyed within 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 squareCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 306mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 183IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cherry pie filling, cranberries, cranberry, cranberry cherry dessert squares, cranberry dessert, cranberry dessrt squares, instant pudding

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_{Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.}