1-First Steps: Prepping the Base Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan to avoid any sticking issues. Beat the softened butter in a bowl at medium speed until it’s creamy, which helps create a smooth mixture. Add the flour, brown sugar, and salt, then beat at low speed until everything mixes well, scraping the bowl as needed. Press about 1 3/4 cups of this crumb mixture into the pan using floured hands for an even base. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn lightly browned, giving you a sturdy foundation for the rest.

2-Middle Layers: Adding the Filling While the crust bakes, combine 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 3-5 minutes until smooth and melted. Spread this warm chocolate mixture over the hot crust for a gooey center. Stir the chopped nuts into the remaining crumb mixture and sprinkle it evenly over the chocolate layer. Drop scant teaspoonfuls of raspberry jam across the top and add the rest of the chocolate chips for bursts of flavor.

3-Final Bake and Cool Bake the assembled bars for 25-30 minutes until the topping is light golden and the center sets firmly. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before cutting this step is key for clean slices. The total prep time is about 15 minutes, with the whole process taking around 1 hour and 50 minutes to yield 36 tasty bars.