White Chocolate Raspberry Bars
I was heading to northern Minnesota for a family reunion a few summers ago. Of course, baked goods were expected! These White Chocolate Raspberry Bars were loaded in my suitcase, went through TSA to a Northwoods cottage where they got rave reviews!
This Raspberry Cookie Bars Recipe was sweet, rich, and sturdy enough to survive a flight and car drive to a lake house not too far from the Canadian border. I returned with just an empty container. Not a crumb remained!
Raspberry Cookie Bars
Two of my favorite ingredients in one cookie bar, raspberries, and white chocolate! I couldn’t help but lick the bowl (quality control and all!) and the flavors were just perfect. A little almond extract added a magnificent boost of flavor, and I never can pass up a white chocolate dessert! 2/3 of the cookie dough batter infused with melted white chocolate made up the base of the bars. After baking, a thin layer of raspberry preserves was spread over the hot bars. The rest of the batter, this time studded with white chocolate chips, was dolloped over the surface before a second stint in the oven. It was nearly impossible to let them cool before diving in.
There was a little glitch the first time I made these berry bars. The chocolate chips did not completely melt after sitting in the hot butter, so I had some chunks in the bottom layer. But, what the heck, they were still divine! My sister, Maddy, ate one of these raspberry bars before going to bed and then had a crazy dream about eating the most incredible desserts in her life. I think that says it all!!<
Tips for Making these Berry Bars
- I like lining my baking pan with non-stick foil. As the raspberry preserves cook, they can easily adhere to even a pan sprayed with cooking spray. Plus the foil helps you pull the bars out of the pan to cut. And makes cleanup a lot easier!
- Let your white chocolate sit in the hot butter as you mix up the dough. Then use a whisk to combine so that no chunks remain. If you need to zap the mixture in the microwave to melt any stray bits, that’s fine. I find white chocolate bars melt easier than chips, so that’s another option.
- These raspberry white chocolate chip bars can be made with all sorts of other jams and preserves. I’d love to try blackberry, black currant, or apricot versions.
- If you’re not a fan of almond extract, vanilla extract would be just as tasty in this raspberry bars recipe.
- Feel free to sprinkle a few slivered almonds on top if you’re a nut lover!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Melt White Chocolate?
Typically, I’ll put white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and zap for 20-30 seconds, stop to stir, and repeat until the mixture is smooth. Note that white chocolate is softer than dark chocolate and will take less time to melt.
In this recipe, though, the directions state to melt butter in a heat-safe bowl, then add the chocolate chips and let them melt in the hot butter. I find that chocolate chips don’t melt as easily as chopped chocolate bars, so I’d recommend chopping the chocolate chips into smaller bits to make melting easier.
What is White Chocolate?
Though not true chocolate, white chocolate cannot be classified as chocolate because it does not contain any chocolate liquor, according to my Food Lovers’ Companion. But it’s still called “chocolate” and found with the other types of chocolate in the grocery stores.
What is White Chocolate Made Of?
The ingredients in white chocolate are usually sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids, lecithin, and vanilla. Without the chocolate liquor, there is noticeably little chocolate flavor.
Two Sweetie Pies
Thanks again to my lovely friend, Danielle, for another fabulous recipe! She is my go-to blogger for decadent treats. I promise you will love whatever you try from her blog!!! We share a recipe from each other’s sites every second Monday of the month.
Check Danielle’s take on these out of this world raspberry bars as well as her social media sites! Make sure to check out which of my recipes she made this month, too.
Hugs & Cookies XOXO – Facebook – Pinterest – Twitter – Instagram
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Raspberry Crumb Bars from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- White Chocolate Berry Pudding Cake from Inside BruCrew Life
- Easy White Chocolate Easter Bark from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- 5 Minute White Chocolate Fudge from Crazy for Crust
- White Chocolate Mousse with Frangelico from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Easy No-Bake White Chocolate Thin Mints from The View from Great Island
- White Chocolate Bundt Cake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Plus, check out my post on How to Cut Perfect Cookie Bars!
- More Chocolate Desserts
This recipe was first shared in 2017. Photos and text were updated in 2020.
White Chocolate Raspberry Bars
Delicious buttery raspberry bars with a double dose of white chocolate! Adapted from Nestles via Hugs & Cookies XOXO
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2 cups white chocolate chips, divided
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup raspberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°. Butter and sugar 9-inch-square baking pan.
- Melt butter in a medium, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Add 1 cup white chocolate chips and let stand without stirring. I recommend chopping these chocolate chips for easier melting.
- Beat eggs in large bowl until foamy. Add sugar; beat until light lemon-colored, about 5 minutes. Stir in the morsel-butter mixture. Add flour, salt, and almond extract, then mix at low speed until combined. Spread 2/3 of batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until light golden brown around edges. Remove from oven to wire rack. Leave oven on.
- Heat the jam in a small, microwave-safe bowl on high power for 30 seconds; stir. Spread jam over warm crust. Stir remaining morsels into remaining batter. Drop spoonfuls of batter over jam.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the edges are browned. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 0gSugar: 24gProtein: 3g
21 Comments on “White Chocolate Raspberry Bars”
I would absolutely love this dessert, Liz! It looks and sounds delicious and two of my fave ingredients in it. Unfortunately, Bill does not care for white chocolate and not crazy about raspberries either. How I would love a serving or two of this, yum!!!!!
Love the white chocolate – good flavor combo! Enjoy your weekend, Liz. 🙂
These bars are perfection – such an ideal summer treat, and cut so beautifully as always!
You are lucky to have made it through TSA, Liz. Seeing your bars might’ve made a weaker agent confiscate them for their own family =)
Yes, please — and thank you! These sound amazing. What a great flavor combination too.
I certainly do miss white chocolate. It’s just so delicious. I don’t know what it is about it. I need to figure out a way in which I can create a GiGi Approved version.
I love the story of your sister’s dreams!! I can only imagine the dreams these bars would invoke haha they look fab. Raspberry and white chocolate is such a perfect combo!
White chocolate and raspberries are a wonderful combo. I just need some good raspberry jam. These bars would not last long in our house. What would I give for sweet dreams!
I can imagine how quickly these delicious looking bars disappeared! White chocolate and raspberries go perfectly together. Lucky you with the family reunion! Our families have dwindles, no more reunions on either side. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Liz, I first saw these amazing bars on IG and can easily see why they are a family favorite. Love this combo!
Gotta try these yummy bars Liz – anything white chocolate!!!! Besides, I welcome all sweet dreams, lucky Maddy! XO
I can certainly see why these bars would get rave reviews, they are gorgeous! I did not bake anything for our trip to Wisconsin because I had intended in taking carry on only…it was a really last minute choice to switch to checked bag (because I had 6 pairs of shoes!).😳
They look delish! Thanks for reminding me of these!!! Yum and easy, too! xoxo
White chocolate and raspberry is one of my favourite combos! This looks SO good!
I was gonna say, 2 of my favorite ingredients also! The bars look awesome and I knda like the pieces of white chocolate in there.
If I was a TSA officer, I would raid your suitcase and declare that these weren’t allowed through security. Then I’d excuse myself, head to a quiet room and indulge in these crazy delicious looking bars. Good thing that’s not my line of work, right?
I can definitely see having dreams of delicious desserts after eating these! YUM!
What a delicious sweet choice Liz! Perfect bars!
These look out of this world delicious!
I always adore the combo of white chocolate and raspberry..these bars look scrumptious!