Congo Squares - #

By jann

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp.salt
• 9 tbsp (1 stick plus 1 tbsp.) unsalted butter, at room temperature.
• 1 3/4 cups (lightly packed) light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Details

Servings 12
Cooking time 30mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with butter or vegetable oil.
2. Blend the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl with a wooden spoon. Set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla in a medium-size bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop the mixer once or twice to scrape the bowl with a spatula.
4. Add the eggs and mix on high speed for 3 seconds, then on medium until blended, about 5 more seconds.
5. Add flour mixture, mix on low until almost blended, 8 to 10 seconds, scrape bowl down once.
6. Add chocolate chips and nuts, mix low for 5 seconds. Finish the mixing by hand with a wooden spoon. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
7. Bake in center oven rack until the top has formed a rich golden crust and dropped below the level of the darker golden outer edges, 30 minutes. Cannot be tested by boothpick because they remain very gooey inside. Cool for 30 minutes in the pan placed on a rack before cutting. Store leftovers in airtight container in the refrigerator.