Creating Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps for a delightful dessert:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Prepare Cranberries: If using fresh cranberries, rinse them and remove any stems or damaged berries. If using frozen cranberries, there’s no need to thaw them.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next.
5. Mix in Flavorings: Stir in the vanilla extract and orange zest to enhance the flavor profile.
6. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon (if using).
7. Incorporate Dry Mixture: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
8. Add Cranberries: Fold in the cranberries gently to distribute them throughout the batter.
9. Pour into Pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
10. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
11. Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 15-20 minutes. Then lift them out using the parchment paper and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Slice and Dust: Once cool, slice the bars into squares or rectangles. If desired, dust the tops with powdered sugar for a festive touch.

These steps will guide you to perfect Moist Christmas Cranberry Bars that will delight family and friends.