Directions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step is crucial since a properly heated oven is key to achieving the perfect texture in your bars.
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Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
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In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the softened butter and light brown sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and creamy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
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Gradually add the flour and salt to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until it is crumbly. Make sure not to overmix; you want some texture in the crust.
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Set aside 2/3 cup of the crumb mixture for topping later. With the remaining mixture, press it evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
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Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. You’re aiming for a light golden color to start the bars off perfectly.
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While the crust is baking, if you wish to add nuts, stir the chopped pecans or walnuts into the reserved crumb mixture. This will create a tremendous crunch that brings added flavor and texture to the bars.
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In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the sweetened condensed milk and bittersweet chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the mixture has melted and is smooth.
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Once melted, pour the chocolate mixture over the pre-baked crust and spread it evenly to cover the surface.
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Sprinkle the reserved crumb topping over the chocolate layer. Then, dollop the raspberry preserves on top, spreading it slightly with the back of a spoon.
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Finish by sprinkling the semi-sweet chocolate chips over everything.
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Bake the assembled bars for an additional 25 minutes, until the top is set and lightly golden. Your kitchen will smell simply tremendous during this time!
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Once baked, allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out before slicing them into squares or rectangles.
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Serve and enjoy the delicious flavors and textures in every bite.
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