Description
Indulgent dark chocolate raspberry pie bars invite sweet-toothed dessert enthusiasts into a world of rich, silky pleasure. Layered with intense cocoa and bright fruity notes, these bars promise a delightful escape that you’ll savor with each luxurious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling and Topping Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy removal.
- Create the crust by blending flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Incorporate cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then firmly press into the pan’s bottom.
- Bake the crust until golden brown, approximately 12-15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly, maintaining its structural integrity.
- Craft the chocolate filling by gently heating heavy cream in a saucepan until it simmers. Immediately remove from heat and whisk in dark chocolate until completely smooth and glossy.
- Stir sugar and vanilla extract into the molten chocolate mixture, ensuring a rich, uniform consistency. Pour evenly over the partially cooled crust.
- Prepare raspberry topping by mashing fresh raspberries with sugar and lemon juice, preserving some fruit chunks for textural complexity.
- Delicately distribute raspberry mixture across the chocolate layer, using a knife to create elegant marbled swirls that intertwine the two components.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for a set chocolate filling and slightly bubbling raspberry layer.
- Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum two hours to solidify and intensify flavors.
- Carefully lift bars from pan using parchment paper, slice into precise squares, and garnish with fresh raspberries or a light powdered sugar dusting.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use cold butter straight from the refrigerator to achieve a perfectly crumbly and flaky crust that holds its structure during baking.
- Chocolate Melting Technique: Always remove chocolate from heat when melting to prevent burning and ensure a smooth, glossy texture that blends beautifully with the cream.
- Raspberry Swirl Strategy: Create delicate marbling by using a light hand when swirling raspberry mixture into chocolate, allowing for an artistic and visually appealing dessert bar.
- Make-Ahead Magic: These bars can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, making them ideal for party planning or unexpected guests.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg