Best Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches Recipes

CRANBERRY LEMON SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• FOR THE COOKIE: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening & sugars until light & fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in the vanilla extract.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, lemon zest & salt, then gradually add this to the creamed mixture & mix well.
• Stir in the cranberries, cover & refrigerate until easy to handle, about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls & place them 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets, before flattening the balls with a glass dipped in sugar.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes or until edges are just lightly browned, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• FOR THE FILLING: In a small mixing bowl, combine the 4 filling ingredients, & beat until smooth.
• Spread filling on the bottoms of half of the cookies, then top that with another cookie to make a sandwich.

CRANBERRY-LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Beat in the flour mixture until completely combined, then fold in 1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries.
• Scoop the dough into golf ball-size balls and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 unlined baking sheets. Gently press the remaining 1/2 cup chopped cranberries into the tops of each cookie. Bake until slightly golden around the edges, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the cookies and transfer to a rack set over a baking sheet.
• Make the glaze: Put the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle on the cookies and let set.

CRANBERRY SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup dried cranberries in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt; pulse to combine. Add the cut-up butter and shortening; pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Whisk the egg, cranberry juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the food coloring in a small bowl; add to the food processor and pulse to form a dough. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 1 1/2 inches apart onto the baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are just set, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the cream cheese, room-temperature butter and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar; beat on low speed until incorporated, then increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy, 2 more minutes. Chop the remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries; stir into the filling along with a pinch of salt. Sandwich between the cookies.

CRANBERRY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
• While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
• Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
• Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops just before serving.