This recipe is from The Gourmet Cookbook. I’ve wanted to make it ever since I first saw it, but for one reason or another it hasn’t happened until now, and am so I sorry I didn’t jump on these sooner. These were a big hit at the potluck I went to today. Everyone wanted the recipe which is always a good sign. The tart cranberries, the sweet “caramel”, and the crunchy pecans layered on a shortbread crust make for a great combination and a great contribution to a holiday cookie tray. I didn’t bother with the drizzle of chocolate. After tasting them, I felt it simply wasn’t needed, but if you want to dress them up a bit feel free to drizzle with a bit of bittersweet chocolate, white chocolate or both. I will definitely make these again.
The recipe is also called Cranberry Turtle Bars and can be found at the following link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cranberry-Turtle-Bars-105743
Basically Baked 
December 12, 2008 at 12:20 am |
i do the same thing with recipes. i tear them out of magazines, forget about them, and all of a sudden find one in between the couch cushions. glad these turned out good.
December 12, 2008 at 5:56 pm |
Yum! Those look delicious!
To answer your ? about the anise. The flavor is very subtle. I’ve used anise oil as well as ground anise seeds. I think I prefer the oil, though it’s hard to find. We never did regular sugar cookies, always anise cookies at Christmas. As a kid, it was great to help decorate them. Now I should do them but I would just stress myself out too much!
Ahhh, my party. This is my 13th year of doing it. It started out very small many years ago and has grown and grown. Now our guest list is over 80 and we expect over 40 to show. I had friends asking me in Sept. when I was having it so they could plan around it. Crazy. I love it though. I love to do all the baking and then showcase my hard work. I have nearly all my lists saved to look back on what I’ve made, what when over well and what remained uneaten. I think I’ve got it streamlined now!
Thanks for the compliments! I’ll be checking back on your blog too!
December 12, 2008 at 6:44 pm |
Yum! You blog looks great and yummy! Welcome to the blogging world.
The Guittard mint chips (while I do LOVE their choc chips) actually aren’t as good (to me) as the Hershey’s mint chips. I also think the Guittard mint chips are a funky green color, they remind me of hospital scrubs. While they are still good–I like the Hershey’s better. Maybe because theirs are choc/mint and Guittards are just mint. ??? Just wanted to FYI you on that.
The mint sandwich cookies you posted look yummy good.
December 12, 2008 at 9:55 pm |
Glad you finally tried the cranberry bars! They are definitely a not your typical cranberry bars.
December 17, 2008 at 3:28 pm |
Wow! those look soo good! I just discovered your site and i love it! all your recipes look so delicious, I can’t wait to try them out myself!
December 18, 2008 at 3:06 pm |
Hello!
Thank you all for visiting and leaving comments! Today I retrieve my son from college and then there will be more baking!