Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Cranberry White Chocolate Orange Bars (AND Ocean Spray Giveaway!)

I love the flavors of fall - pumpkin and cranberries being two of my favorites. This month's edition of Costco Connection magazine actually showcases Ocean Spray cranberries. I buy lots of Craisins; we put them on salads and make bags for lunch boxes.  I never knew the idea of Craisins was an innovation finding a use for cranberry juice's byproduct -- hulls.  The hulls are reinfused with juice and dried to create the tasty snack.  (Sorry for the "How It's Made" aside...I love finding companies that work outside the box!)

Speaking of boxes, we were asked by Ocean Spray to sample and review the Concord Foods' Fresh Cranberry Bread Mix.  It is a seasonal item; only available during the cranberry harvest season which runs through December 31.  My family loved the bread; it was a nice surprise on a cold, Saturday morning. I used fresh cranberries, but if they weren't available, the box recommends soaking Craisins in warm water-I always have those on hand.

I chose to use 3 small seasonal loaf pans as I experimented with homemade gifts.  My extended family is growing to include fiancees and boyfriends; everyone comes to MY house and, I want to have something to give them.  The decorative pans filled with fresh cranberry bread, wrapped in clear cellophane tied with twine will dress up my holiday table while also making a tasty, inexpensive gift.

You really can't get any easier than following the directions on the box of Concord Foods' Cranberry Bread Mix for a yummy seasonal treat, but we also wanted to take advantage of the versatility of this mix and try something different.  I needed only a few extra ingredients, which I already had in my pantry, to make a dessert definitely worthy of a Thanksgiving buffet.

Both Ocean Spray and Concord Foods have additional recipes to include one of Mother Nature's super fruits, the cranberry, in your holiday desserts. Try this recipe for Cranberry White Chocolate Orange bars, and then enter to win a great gift from Ocean Spray!


ENTER BELOW TO WIN A BAG OF CRAISINS, A BOX OF CONCORD FOODS CRANBERRY BREAD MIX, AND A BRAND NEW CALPHALON LOAF PAN!

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 pkg Concord foods' Cranberry Bread Mix
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp freshly grated orange zest
  • 1 cup Ocean Spray Cranberries, coarsely chopped, fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
GLAZE (Ingredients not pictured)
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
  2. In mixer bowl, combine Cranberry Bread Mix, water, egg and orange zest. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).
  3. By hand, stir in cranberries, white chocolate chips, and pecans. Spread into prepared baking pan.
  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely.
  5. To make glaze: In mixer bowl combine all glaze ingredients. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed and creamy (1 to 2 minutes).
  6. Spread glaze on top of cooled bars. 

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minute prep time; 20-25 minutes baking time.
Source: Concord Foods
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: We were contacted by Ocean Spray to sample and review these products

7 comments:

  1. would love to win this as I love baking and giving baking as gifts

    ReplyDelete
  2. This would make a great gift - especially since it has cranberries! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Always love to see what you are giving away next!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to win this fabulous prize! I need a new bread pan and we love anything made with cranberries (not to mention we enjoy eating Craisins right out of the bag!) Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would love to win this fun prize!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to win this! I could eat cranberry bread everyday!

    ReplyDelete
  7. love to win
    thanks for the giveaway
    aunteegem@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete