Chocolate Berry Crumb Bars

This busy grandma finally made these cookies along with my daughter-in-law, Yulia, who shared them with her office staff at a pitch-in luncheon. She won first place with kudos for the cookies. Try this recipe yourself. There are lots of parties and holidays in your future.

Scroll through the blog and you will find several of our favorite family recipes. Try the pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing.  Check back later for more October recipes.

                                          Chocolate Berry Crumb Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cups packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)

1 ¼ cups sweetened condensed milk

½ cup of your favorite berry jam- I prefer seedless raspberry.

½ cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Spray 13x9 inch glass baking pan with baking spray.
2. In large mixing bowl beat softened butter until creamy. Add flour, sugar and salt and mix until crumbly. Spread all but about ¾ cup of crumbs into pan, sprinkle with flour, and press lightly with finger tips. Set rest of crumbs aside.
3. Bake about 10 minutes or until crumbs start to brown around edges. Remove from oven, but leave oven on.
4. In a small saucepan put the condensed milk and 1 cup chocolate chips. Warm at low temperature and stir until creamy. Spread it over the baked crust.
5. Chop the nuts and add to the remaining crumbs. Sprinkle over chocolate sauce.
6. Drop dollops of jam on top of crumbs until ½ cup of jam is used. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top and return to oven. Bake 25-30 minutes until center is set and crumbs are slightly brown. Remove pan to wire rack to cool. Cut into squares. Serve and delight your guests.