Chocolate Layer Bars are a creation to love and share. They combine the goodness of a shortbread layer on the bottom with a “crumb cake layer on the top. In the middle, pure dark chocolate studded with pecans. Scrumptious. For more Bar recipes, check out my gluten-free Chocolate Caramel Crunch Bars, Pecan Pie Bars or my Toasted Almond Shortbread Bars.
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What are the Essentials for Making Chocolate Layer Bars?
The Bare Essentials are flour, sugar, and butter for the shortbread layer and the top’s crumb layer. Then chocolate, cream cheese, pecans, and Half N Half for the middle layer.
Don’t forget a 9 X 9 baking dish and a piece of parchment paper to make a parchment sling. The sling makes it a breeze when it is time to get the bars out of the pan.
Instructions for making these scrumptious chocolate layer bars.
Make the top and bottom layer:
That’s right; you make the top and bottom layers together. Then split the crumbs in half and press half of them into the baking pan. The other half you use for the crumb topping. Pretty slick.
- Put the flour, butter, sugar, and baking powder in a food processor.
- Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Divide the mixture into half – about 1 12 cups (300g) for each half.
- Press 1/2 into the parchment-lined baking pan.
Make the Middle Layer, assemble the bars, and bake.
- Combine the chocolate, cream cheese, half and half in a medium saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat until the chocolate and cream cheese are completely melted.
- Stir in the nuts and almond extract.
- Pour the mixture over the bottom layer and sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top.
- Bake for 35- 40 minutes or until golden brown color.
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Chocolate Layer Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Middle Layer
- 1⅓ cups Semi-sweet chocolate chips(227g)
- ⅔ pkg Cream cheese (151g)
- 3.5 ounces Half and Half (100g)
- ⅔ cup Chopped pecans(76g)
- ½ tsp Almond extract
Bottom and Top Layer
- 2 cups All-purpose flour(240g)
- 1 cup Sugar (198g)
- ⅔ cup Butter(151g)
- 1 tsp Baking powder
Instructions
Middle Layer
- Add the chocolate chips, cream cheese, and half and half to a medium-size saucepan.
- Cook on medium, stirring constantly until the chips and cream cheese are completely melted.
- Stir in the nuts and almond extract and set aside.
Bottom and Top Layer
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Combine the flour, butter, sugar, and baking powder in a food processor.
- Mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Divide the mixture in half (about 1½cups or 300g) for each half.
- Line a 9 X 9-inch pan with a parchment paper sling.
- Press ½ of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the bottom layer. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the chocolate filling layer.
- Bake for 35 - 40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
