Veena Azmanov

Cake Artist and Food Enthusiast

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Cranberry Shortbread Squares

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Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Sweet and crumbly biscuit-like squares that just melt in your mouth is what these cranberry shortbread squares are all about. Semolina creates a unique crumbly shortbread that is hard to resist and cranberry adds that hint of sweet and sour altogether. Made with simple and easy ingredients these take five minutes to mix and needs no special tools or equipment.

Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Best Cranberry Shortbread Squares, Ultimate shortbread cookies, Easy Cranberry Shortbread Squares

For me, it’s the season of shortbread. Throughout the year I make lots of cookies but during fall I tend to make more shortbreads, bars, squares, and barks. Is it just me or do these just make you feel so much like Christmas?

Perhaps it’s because growing up mom took orders for these during the Christmas season so she made more of these and you know I tend to do the same. I don’t take orders but I do give a lot of holiday treats as gifts.

These cranberry shortbread squares are sweet and crumbly with a biscuit-like texture and are the easiest gifts you can make when you are short on time. You don’t need any fancy mixers or pans. Just a bowl and a spatula are all it takes to mix all ingredients and bake for 30 minutes. Now, I must warn you that these are extremely addictive so if you like shortbread, make extra or you won’t have any to add to the gift bags. Don’t ask me how I know that.

Yup, there is a reason why I always put on a few extra pounds this time of the year. All these shortbread squares, bars, brownies, cookies, truffles, and holiday treats are too difficult to resist. But hey, it’s Christmas. Right?

Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Best Cranberry Shortbread Squares, Ultimate shortbread cookies, Easy Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Holiday Gifts for the season (Save/Pin)

These do make simple, easy and wonderful gifts for the holidays to family and friends.  Last year I gave a few of these to the kids’ teachers as gifts and they loved it. The second package below is my ginger shortbread with molasses bars which I shared with you last week as well.

Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Best Cranberry Shortbread Squares, Ultimate shortbread cookies, Easy Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

  • Semolina – is the coarse purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used to make pasta and couscous. These days it is available in most supermarkets in the baking aisle. If you can’t find semolina you may also use rice flour. The rice flour gives a  more crispy texture to the squares while the semolina has a crumbly texture. Both are equally delicious.
  • Unsalted butter – I always use unsalted butter for baking but if salted butter is all you have – use it and just omit the salt in the recipe.
  • Vanilla – A good quality vanilla goes a long way especially in recipes like this where its flavor really shines thru.
  • Cranberries – I love using dried as well as semi-dried plump cranberries. You can also use other dry fruits of course. Try dates, figs, and apricots. Just chop them into small pieces.
  • Powdered sugar – this works great because it instant is absorbed into the butter enhancing that crumbly texture.
Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Best Cranberry Shortbread Squares, Ultimate shortbread cookies, Easy Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Recipe – Semolina Cranberry Shortbread Squares (Save/Pin)

Ingredients

  • 150 grams Unsalted butter
  • 90 grams Powdered sugar
  • 1 Large egg
  • 40 grams Semolina
  • 170 grams All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 100 grams (3/4 to 1 cup)  cranberries

Method

  • Preheat oven to 170C / 340 F
  • Cream sugar and powdered sugar
  • Add the egg and combine well.
  • Followed by the semolina, salt, and vanilla
  • Lastly, add the flour – combine well.
  • Spread evenly into a parchment lined 8 x 8 square pan
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges start to get slightly golden
  • Remove and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
  • While still warm – cut into 16 squares as shown in the video
  • Enjoy!

 

Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.

Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Best Cranberry Shortbread Squares, Ultimate shortbread cookies, Easy Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Make sweet crumbly cranberry shortbread squares in less than 40 minutes. Holiday gifts don't get easier than this. Do they?

Semolina Cranberry Shortbread Squares

Sweet and crumbly biscuit-like squares that just melt in your mouth is what these cranberry shortbread squares are all about. Semolina creates a unique crumbly shortbread that is hard to resist and cranberry adds that hint of sweet and sour altogether. Made with simple and easy ingredients these take five minutes to mix and needs no special tools or equipment.
5 from 20 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, High Tea, Snacks
Cuisine: Austrian, British, Scottish
Keyword: Christmas, Cranberry, Gifts, Holidays, Semolina, Shortbread, squares
Adjust Servings Here: 16 squares
Calories: 160kcal
Author: Veena Azmanov
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

  • 150 grams Unsalted butter
  • 90 grams Powdered sugar
  • 1 Large egg
  • 40 grams Semolina
  • 170 grams All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 100 grams dried cranberries
Metric - US customary

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 170C / 340 F
  • Cream sugar and powdered sugar
  • Add the egg and combine well.
  • Followed by the semolina, salt, and vanilla
  • Lastly, add the flour - combine well.
  • Spread evenly into a parchment lined 8 x 8 square pan
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges start to get slightly golden
  • Remove and let cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
  • While still warm - cut into 16 squares as shown in the video
  • Enjoy!

Detailed Video on YouTube - Subscribe for more videos

Nutrition Information

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5% | Calcium: 0.5% | Iron: 3.8%
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Tried this recipe?Mention @veenaazmanov or tag #veenaazmanov!

 

Do you love baking such treats like Bars, Squares, Brownies?

Well, you may like to check out my collection of these here – Bars, Squares Brownies. From simple apricot squares to strawberry brownies. Or try ginger shortbread to butterscotch chocolate pecan squares. Alternatively, you may like to see all my baked creations from cakes, cookies, pies and more.

Simple, easy bars, squares brownies and shortbread to try the whole year round. Chocolate, to marzipan or cranberries.

Apricot squares, cranberry bars, marzipan, shortbreads, butterscotch, caramels

 

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Comments

  1. I cannot believe how easy these were to make. I made three batches of these to give as gifts – In one I made the exact recipe. I added cocoa powder to the second for a chocolate version and in the third, I added nuts. It was perfect.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Quyen. So happy you had success with this recipe and that you enjoyed making these so much. Your chocolate and nuts version sounds wonderful. Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Appreciate it very much. I love hearing from those who try my recipes.

      Reply

  3. We always have semolina in our house and these cranberry shortbread squares would be great to serve at Thanksgiving along with the other desserts. I like individual servings and I could put some in a gift bag so the guests could take some home. Great recipe.

    Reply

  7. I only a few years ago started making shortbread during the Holidays. I love this cranberry shortbread. The fact that your Mom was also baking this is a great Holiday memory. I give cookie gifts and I am adding these to the list that we bake and give!

    Reply

  9. Veena, your shortbread squares look absolutely perfect! So soft and I love the addition of the cranberries. I would love one right now with a cup of tea. XO

    Reply

  13. I love how you combine gift giving and these are so festive they really are the perfect holiday shortbread cookie!

    Reply

  14. I’m always looking for new ways to use cranberries this time of year. This shortbread looks fantastic, and I love that you use semolina flour for a crumbly texture

    Reply

  16. Ooooh these do sound just like christmas! Plus, I’m all about anything shortbread, it’s the best kind of cookie. Great recipe!

    Reply

  17. It’s looks lovely but I can’t help notice how different it is from Scottish shortbread which is very buttery and short. We make ours with flour sugar and butter (no eggs) and you gently rub in the butter with your fingers being careful not to overwork it, then bring it together and roll. It makes for the most melt in the mouth shortbread. Isn’t it funny how recipes change as they travel around the world.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Jacqueline. Yes, these are different from Scotish Shortbread cookies. My mom made those for years. Still my absolute favorite. It’s nice to add variations and create new recipes from old ones. Don’t you think? The semolina and egg add to a wonderful crumble that just melts in your mouth. I think you will like this one. Try it.

      Reply

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