Chocolate Raspberry Crumb Bars

Recipe Courtesy of Land of Lakes

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Makes 24 bars

In honor of Valentines Day, I'm posting my very favorite cookie recipe.  There is nothing better than chocolate and raspberry together!

Photo Courtesy of Nestle.com

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 (12-ounce) package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (We recommend NESTLÈ® TOLL HOUSE® Morsels)

1 1/4 cups (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter in large mixer bowl at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1 minute). Add flour, brown sugar and salt. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).

Press about 1 1/2 cups mixture onto bottom of lightly greased 13x9-inch baking pan with floured hands. Reserve remaining mixture.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Meanwhile, in small heavy saucepan combine 1 cup morsels and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (3 to 5 minutes). Spread over hot, partially baked crust.

Stir chopped nuts into remaining crumb mixture; sprinkle over bars. Drop scant teaspoonfuls of raspberry jam over chocolate and crumb mixture; sprinkle with remaining morsels. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is light golden brown and center is set.

Cool completely on wire rack (at least 1 hour). Cut into bars