These bars look gorgeous with their marbled-dough tops, but they're also chewy, chocolaty, and delicious. Plus, they're easy to make, with basic ingredients!
Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: bars, chocolate
Author: Beth Cato
Ingredients
1cupunsalted buttersoftened
1 3/4cupsall-purpose flour
1cupwhite sugar
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
2cupssemisweet chocolate chips
14ozsweetened condensed milk
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 13x9 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
In a big mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy, followed by the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix until it turns crumbly, scraping the bowl as needed. Place 2 cups of the crumbs in the pan. Use floured fingers or a piece of waxed paper and a heavy glass to compress the crumbs evenly.
Bake pan 11 to 15 minutes, until edges of base layer are turning golden brown.
Place 1 cup of the chocolate chips and the sweetened condensed milk in a large microwave safe bowl [or, alternately, do this on the stovetop]. Zap about 30 seconds, stir well, then try another 15 seconds--watch very carefully! It can turn molten, fast. Once it can be stirred smooth, add vanilla extract. Spread over the hot crust.
Stir remaining cup of chocolate chips into the reserved crumb mixture. Sprinkle this over the top of the chocolate layer.
Bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until center is set. Cool completely in pan.
Use the foil to lift contents onto cutting board. Slice. Store bars in a covered container, waxed paper or parchment between the layers, at room temperature.