Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars Recipe

Heavenly Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars Recipe for Dessert Lovers

Sweet memories dance through my dark chocolate raspberry pie bars, blending rich cocoa with vibrant fruit notes.

Layers of decadent ingredients promise a delightful culinary adventure.

Raspberries bring unexpected brightness against deep chocolate undertones.

Delicate yet bold, these bars invite pure indulgence.

Crisp pastry creates a perfect foundation for luxurious fillings.

Minimal effort yields maximum satisfaction with this elegant dessert.

You’ll find these irresistible bars perfect for any celebration or quiet moment of pure pleasure.

Raspberry Pie Bars (Dark Chocolate) What Goes In

Crust Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base for the crumbly crust.
  • Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the crust.
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates a rich and flaky texture.
Filling Ingredients:
  • Raspberry Preserves: Delivers a sweet and tangy raspberry flavor.
  • Fresh Raspberries: Adds bright, juicy bursts of fruit.
  • Dark Chocolate Chips: Brings rich and intense chocolate notes.
Topping Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps create a crumbly topping texture.
  • Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provide layers of sweetness.
  • Unsalted Butter: Ensures a crisp and golden topping.

Raspberry Pie Bars with Dark Chocolate – Preparation

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Station

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Grab a 9×9 inch pan and line it with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over for super easy bar removal later.

Step 2: Create the Crust Foundation

Grab a mixing bowl and blend flour and sugar together. Introduce chilled butter cubes and work them into the mixture until it looks like sandy, crumbly goodness.

Step 3: Bake the Crust Base

Press the crumbly mixture into the prepared pan. Slide it into the oven and bake until the edges turn a delicate golden color, around 15 minutes. Remove and let it rest.

Step 4: Spread the Fruity Layer

Generously spread raspberry preserves across the baked crust, creating a vibrant and glossy surface.

Step 5: Add Fresh Raspberry Excitement

Scatter fresh raspberries over the preserves, creating a burst of bright color and tangy flavor.

Step 6: Sprinkle Chocolate Magic

Distribute dark chocolate chips evenly across the raspberry layer, promising rich and decadent bites.

Step 7: Whip Up the Crumbly Topping

In another bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Cut in chilled butter until the mixture transforms into delightful crumbly clusters.

Step 8: Crown the Bars

Generously sprinkle the crumbly topping over the chocolate and raspberry layers, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Watch for a golden topping and melted chocolate signals.

Step 10: Cool and Slice

Let the bars cool completely on a wire rack. Use the parchment paper handles to lift them out, then slice into delectable squares ready to devour.

Baking Notes for Raspberry Chocolate Pie Bars

  • Prevent Soggy Crust: Blind bake the crust for 15 minutes to create a crisp foundation that won't get mushy from fruit preserves.
  • Select Premium Chocolate: Choose high-quality dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa for rich, intense flavor that complements the raspberries perfectly.
  • Control Fruit Moisture: Pat fresh raspberries gently with paper towels to remove excess liquid and prevent a watery filling.
  • Achieve Perfect Crumb Topping: Keep butter extremely cold and work quickly when cutting it into the flour mixture to ensure a flaky, crumbly texture.
  • Store Smartly: Refrigerate bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain their delicate structure.

Keep Raspberry Pie Bars Moist And Ready To Serve

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or lid to prevent moisture loss and preserve freshness.
  • Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Place bars on a baking sheet and warm for 5-7 minutes until heated through. This method helps restore the crisp crust and melty chocolate texture.
  • Heat individual bars for 10-15 seconds on medium power. Be careful not to overheat, which can make the crust soggy and change the texture.

Raspberry Pie Bars Best Serving Picks

  • Elevate Wine Pairing: Match the rich dark chocolate and raspberry flavors with a bold Pinot Noir, whose fruity and light tannin profile complements the dessert's sweetness.
  • Craft Beverage Partner: Brew a robust espresso or dark roast coffee to cut through the sweetness and enhance the deep chocolate undertones of the pie bars.
  • Liqueur Companion: Drizzle a raspberry liqueur like Chambord alongside the bars, intensifying the raspberry notes and creating a luxurious dessert experience.
  • Dessert Sidekick: Serve a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to balance the intense chocolate and provide a creamy, cooling contrast to the warm pie bars.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars: Bold Baking Styles

  • Gluten-Free Raspberry Chocolate Bars: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version.
  • Vegan Chocolate Raspberry Squares: Swap butter with coconut oil, use dairy-free dark chocolate chips, and substitute eggs with flax egg replacer.
  • Low-Sugar Berry Chocolate Bars: Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener, sugar-free raspberry preserves, and dark chocolate with higher cocoa percentage.
  • Paleo-Friendly Berry Dessert Bars: Use coconut flour instead of wheat flour, replace sugar with honey or maple syrup, and include almond flour for crust base.

FAQs

  • Are the raspberries crucial for this recipe?

Fresh raspberries add natural tartness and juicy texture, complementing the rich dark chocolate and creating a balanced flavor profile.

  • Can I substitute the dark chocolate chips?

While dark chocolate works best, you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips for a slightly sweeter taste, but avoid milk chocolate as it might make the bars too sweet.

  • Why use both preserves and fresh raspberries?

The preserves provide a consistent fruity base layer, while fresh raspberries add brightness, texture, and intense raspberry flavor throughout the bars.

  • How do I know when the bars are perfectly baked?

Look for a golden-brown topping and completely melted chocolate. The edges should be slightly bubbling, and the bars should appear set but still slightly soft in the center.

Raspberry and Chocolate Meet in These Dreamy Pie Bars

  • Craft with Ease: Perfect for bakers of all skill levels, these bars require simple ingredients and basic mixing techniques anyone can master.
  • Burst with Flavor Fusion: Combines rich dark chocolate, tangy raspberries, and buttery crust for a mouthwatering dessert that delights every taste bud.
  • Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, or casual weekend treats that will impress both kids and adults with their irresistible combination of textures and tastes.
  • Quick Homemade Indulgence: Minimal preparation steps and straightforward ingredients make these bars a fast dessert solution for spontaneous sweet cravings or unexpected guests.
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Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars Recipe

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pie Bars Recipe


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4.6 from 29 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Delightful dark chocolate raspberry pie bars bring rich, velvety indulgence to dessert lovers’ tables. Silky chocolate meets tangy raspberries in a perfect balance of sweet and tart, promising a memorable culinary experience you’ll savor with each luxurious bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Chocolate and Raspberry Base:

  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup fresh raspberries

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Other Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking vessel by lining a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring extended edges for effortless extraction.
  2. Create the foundational crust by blending flour and sugar, methodically incorporating chilled butter until the mixture develops a grainy, crumbly texture.
  3. Firmly compress the crumbly mixture into the prepared pan, ensuring an even, uniform layer across the bottom.
  4. Transfer the crust to the preheated oven at 350°F, baking until a delicate golden hue emerges, approximately 15 minutes.
  5. After removing the crust, generously spread raspberry preserves across the entire surface, creating a vibrant, glossy base layer.
  6. Artfully distribute fresh raspberries over the preserves, ensuring an even, picturesque arrangement.
  7. Liberally cascade dark chocolate chips across the raspberry layer, allowing them to nestle between the fruit.
  8. Construct the crumble topping by combining flour, granulated sugar, and brown sugar, then integrate chilled butter until a coarse, sandy consistency develops.
  9. Delicately sprinkle the prepared topping over the chocolate and raspberry layers, covering the entire surface with a rustic, textured coating.
  10. Return the assembled bars to the oven, baking until the topping transforms into a golden-brown landscape and the chocolate melts enticingly.
  11. Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, positioned on a wire rack to facilitate proper temperature reduction.
  12. Once thoroughly cooled, leverage the parchment paper overhang to extract the entire creation, then slice into elegant, uniform squares.

Notes

  • Chill ingredients thoroughly to ensure a flaky, tender crust that crumbles perfectly when bitten.
  • Use high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for a rich, intense flavor that complements the sweet raspberries.
  • Let bars cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling and achieve clean, precise squares that look professionally made.
  • Substitute gluten-free flour for a celiac-friendly version without compromising the delicious texture and taste of the bars.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 155
  • Sugar: 3.5 g
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
James Hambly

James Hambly

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development, Culinary Education, Farm-to-Table Cooking, Southern Cuisine

Education

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in professional cooking techniques, emphasizing farm-to-table practices and Southern cuisine.

The Chef’s Academy
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive culinary education covering global cuisines, kitchen management, and food safety.​


James grew up surrounded by the smells of cast-iron skillets and slow-cooked Southern meals in Asheville, North Carolina.
He sharpened his skills with a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, and later leveled up with an Associate Degree from The Chef’s Academy.
James’s philosophy is simple: the best meals don’t need fancy tricks, just fresh ingredients, a hot pan, and a little bit of heart. His favorite days are spent testing one-pan wonders, chasing bold flavors, and creating recipes that feel easy, even on a busy night.

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