Congo Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar (firmly packed)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 2 1/2 cups finely-chopped semisweet chocolate (12 oz)

Recipe

• 1 heat oven to 350°.
• 2 lightly butter a 9- by 13-inch glass baking dish, reserving butter wrapper.
• 3 set aside.
• 4 sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• 5 set aside.
• 6 using a wooden spoon, beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• 7 add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• 8 add sifted flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
• 9 add chopped nuts and chocolate, and mix to combine.
• 10 place the dough in the prepared baking dish.
• 11 using the reserved butter wrapper, spread dough evenly.
• 12 bake until golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• 13 remove to rack to cool slightly before cutting, about 20 minutes.
• 14 using a serrated knife, cut into 18 (2 1/4- by 3-inch) bars.
• 15 store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
• 16 this recipe yields 18 two-and-one-quarter-inch bars.