Chocolate Shortbread and Cranberry Hazelnut Streusel Bars

These bars combine the richness of chocolate shortbread with the tartness of cranberries and the crunch of hazelnuts, topped with a layer of decadent chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F 175C

Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan

In a food processor, pulse together flour, granulated sugar, and salt

Add cold butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Press mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan

Bake for 15 minutes

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together cranberries, hazelnuts, brown sugar, oats, cocoa powder, and baking powder

Sprinkle the cranberry-hazelnut mixture evenly over the partially baked shortbread crust

Sprinkle chocolate chips over the streusel topping

Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the streusel is golden brown

Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars