Chocolate Raspberry Crumb Bars

Submitted by: Carol Carter

   Chocolate Raspberry Crumb Bars

   From the Kitchen of Carol Carter

1 cup butter softened

2 cups all purpose flour

½ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ tsp salt

2 cups ( 12 oz. Package) semi sweet chocolate morsels, divided ( I like Giardelli)

1 ¼ ( 14 oz Nestle Carnation Sweetened Chocolate  Milk (you can use lowfat, if desired)

¼ cup chopped nuts (optional I usually don't use nuts)

½ cup Seedless Raspberry Jam.( I use about 2/3 cups)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat butter in large mixer bowl until creamy

Beat in flour, sugar, and salt until well mixed

With floured fingers, press 1 ¼ cup of Crumb mixture on to bottom of a greased 13X9 inch cake pan. (This is the hardest part, because the mixture can be sticky.)

Reserve remaining crumbs for the topping

Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Combine:

1 cup chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a small, heavy duty saucepan

Melt  mixture over low heat, stirring until smooth.

Spread over hot crust.

Stir nuts into reserved crumb mixture  ( I don't use nuts)

Sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the chocolate filling

Drop teaspoons of raspberry jam over the crumbs

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is set.

Cool completely on wire rack.  Makes about 3 dozens bars depending on how large or small you slice them.  These don't have to be refrigerated, although they can be.