Dark Chocolate Crumb Bars

So, I used to post once a month on a blog called Today’s Housewife. Last fall, the group decided together to stop posting due the busyness of life and families and such. Though sad, I enjoyed being part of the group. As of early January, the blog was officially taken down. But I don’t want to lose my recipes, so periodically I will be reposting them on here. Enjoy!

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this post is originally from June 14, 2012

I first had the pleasure of enjoying these rich, flavorful, awesome bars at Thanksgiving last year. My sister-in-law made them (I think), and Ben and I just couldn’t stop eating them. I mean, could you??

After we got home, I was saddened by the thought that all the Dark Chocolate Crumb Bars were gone… but then it was Christmas cookie time and Girl Scout Cookie time and more desserts came and went. Then, one fateful day… I pulled out a bag of dark chocolate chips and saw the recipe right on the side of the bag! I knew it was meant to be, and so I made a batch of Dark Chocolate Crumb Bars. They are salty and sweet… absolutely perfect for chocolate cravings!

These layered bar cookies begin with a basic buttery crust, then are topped with a layer of ooey gooey dark chocolate goodness, and covered with more buttery crumbs and more dark chocolate chips. If you want, you can even add nuts to the topping–I didn’t, because I don’t really like nuts with chocolate, but if you do… go right ahead! This simple dessert looks impressive, but you don’t have to tell anyone that the recipe came from the side of a bag of chocolate chips and they come together in no time at all. I know these are a treat we’ll be making for years to come, and I hope you will give them a try too!

Dark Chocolate Crumb Bars [from Very Best Baking]
click to print

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt <— I usually leave salt out of recipes, but this is an integral part of this one!
• 1 2/3 cups (10 ounce package) dark chocolate chips, divided
• 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Add butter to a mixer bowl and beat until creamy. Gradually add in flour, sugar, and salt, beat until crumbly. Press 2 cups mixture into bottom of prepared pan to form the crust. Set remaining crumb mixture aside.

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

In a small saucepan set over low heat, combine 1 cup dark chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Stir continually until chocolate is melted, then add vanilla extract. Pour over crust.

Top with remaining dark chocolate chips and nuts, if using.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan until completely cool, then cut into bars.

Time: 50 minutes [15 minutes active].

Yield: 30 bars.