Raspberry Chocolate Chip Bars

The recipe for these bars came from the Oregon Fruit Products Co's website www.oregonfruit.com. Preparation time does not include the time needed for the pan to cool before cutting into bars.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 36
• Yields: 36 bars

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can raspberries, drained, syrup reserved
• 2  tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  cup granulated sugar
• 3⁄4 cup pecans, finely chopped
• 1⁄2 lb unsalted butter, softened
• 1  large egg
• 1 2⁄3 cups  semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, & grease a 13"x9" baking dish.
2. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch & reserved syrup, heating & stirring about 3 to 4 minutes until thickened, then mix in the raspberries & set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, pecans, butter & egg until crumbly, then set aside 1 1/2 cups of this crumb mixture.
4. Put remaining crumb mixture into the baking dish & press to flatten & even out.
5. Evenly spread the cooled raspberry mixture into the baking dish, then sprinkle with chocolate chips before sprinkling the remaning crumb mixture over the top of the fruit.
6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned, then cool in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.