Dark Chocolate Crumb Bars

• butter, softened↗3⁄4 cup
• all-purpose flour↗1 3⁄4 cups
• granulated sugar↗1⁄3 cup
• salt↗1⁄4 teaspoon
• NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate Morsels, divided↗1 2⁄3 cups
• NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Sweetened Condensed Milk↗1 can

  (14 ounce)

• vanilla extract↗1 teaspoon
• chopped walnuts (optional)1 cup

  (optional)

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   PREHEAT oven to 350* F. Grease 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

2. 2

   BEAT butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in flour, sugar and salt until crumbly. With floured fingers, press 2 cups crumb mixture onto bottom of prepared baking pan; reserve remaining mixture.

3. 3

   BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

4. 4

   COMBINE 1 cup morsels and sweetened condensed milk in small, heavy-duty saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Spread over hot crust.

5. 5

   STIR nuts and remaining 2/3 cup morsels into reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over chocolate filling. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.