Tuesday, November 9, 2010

TWD: Not-Just-For-Thanksgiving Cranberry Shortbread Cake


If you think the title of this recipe is a mouthful, wait till you bake this delicious dessert! The recipe itself is very simple, a shortbread dough divided into a top layer and a bottom layer. The in between layer is a cranberry orange jam filling.

I was a bit hesitant to bake these up. I don't really know why other than trying to be careful of baking too many sweets and life just keeping me busy. When I looked over the recipe, I realized it was very simple. So simple, all I had to do was make the dough.

You see, last summer, my grandma taught me how to can. I went a little obsessive and canned everything I could think of, especially jams. Jam is one of the simplest things to can. I'm sure you can see where this is going. I didn't realize last summer, how long it would take 2 people to eat through everything that I had canned, especially the jam. We have definitely found some creative ways and fun ways to eat jam. One of my husband's favorites was the cranberry orange jam that I came up with.

The bottom line, the cranberry orange jam that I created last summer was almost the same as the one Dorie uses as the filling in this cookie! I was so excited to have another way to use up the jam on my pantry shelf. This recipe was so simple and so delicious. The best part is the versatility of this recipe. You can fill it with whatever sweet, fruity, jam type filling you can think of!


Our hostess this week was Jessica of A Singleton in the Kitchen. The recipe can be found on her blog.

13 comments:

Nickki said...

Looks wonderful cut into bars! Lovely recipe :-)

Hindy said...

Your squares look delicious! Nicely done.

Peggy said...

Love the bars. My mother used to can things,but for some reason I have never had the desire to do that. It is hard work I know that. Love the cake.

chocolatechic said...

Cranberry Orange sounds fabulous.

Mary said...

I had the same hesitation, and the same plethora of jam to use! I ended making another for this, so still looking for ways to use it all up. Yours looks fantastic!
:)

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

That is so fun that your grandmother taught you to can! :) And quite a good thing since you had it all ready for this recipe! :) Looks great!

Cindy said...

This was one simply delicious dessert! Have a great day.

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

That is wonderful that you have all those jams. After making this jam, I am wondering why I buy jams, at all.

You have one nice cake there and it is more special with your jam.

I made a blueberry jam and found in the fridge, a tiny jar of cherry jam which I added to my own. That turned out great.

Jessica of My Baking Heart said...

I'd love to learn the canning process - sounds like your jam was perfect with this! :) Beautiful squares!

Tia said...

I wish I knew how to can. That's a great skill to have!

Flourchild said...

Yum it looks good! I love the bar idea!

AmyRuth said...

Congratulations on using your "almost like Dorie's" jam and also for having a grandmother who can share her passion with you. You are so blessed. Enjoy your fruits.
AmyRuth

PS it looks beautiful

Jessica said...

I'm so jealous of your canning abilities! I really want to put up jams and preserves and such. How lucky and wonderful that you already had homemade cranberry orange preserves on hand! Thanks so much for baking along with me!