Add cranberries, orange juice, zest, water, sugar, and cornstarch in a medium pot. Bring mixture to boil and then simmer on low-medium heat for about 10-15 mins. This sauce should be a little thick in consistency (like fruit jam).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a medium mixing bowl add flour, sugar, chopped pecans, vanilla, butter, egg, orange zest, orange juice, and salt. Combine them together to form a crumbly mixture.
Line 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Evenly spread and lightly tap the flour mixture in the pan to form a base.
Bake it in a preheated oven for 18-20 min.
Slightly cool the base and then evenly spread the prepared cranberry sauce over the flour base. Once completely cool cut into small bars.
Optionally, drizzle some powdered sugar and garnish with some crushed pecans and orange zest.
Notes
Thoroughly wash the cranberries before use and discard soft ones, if any.
Cut the parchment a little larger than the pan height for easy removal of bars after baking so that they don't break.