Congo Squares
Ingredients
2 3⁄4 cups flour
2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
2⁄3 cup shortening, melted (I do this in the microwave, in a microwave safe bowl, in 30 second bursts)
2 1⁄4 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1 cup nuts, optional (I like walnuts and pecans best)
8 ounces chocolate chips (I prefer semi-sweet, but any would work)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
3. In a large bowl, mix the melted shortening and the brown sugar. Cool.
4. Add eggs to brown sugar mixture, beating after each addition. Add dry ingredients, nuts, and chocolate and stir to combine. Pour into greased 9x12-inch baking pan.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.
Comments
This is an old family recipe that I grew up eating; I think that my mom might have made these for my dad while they were dating in fact! I’ve had the recipe for years, but this is the first time I got around to making them myself. I had a hard time explaining what they were to Art and Lance prior to baking them, but afterward it was decided that they’re sort of like chocolate chip cookies in bar form.
I made these for Game Day and, due to Lance’s nut allergy, I split the batter into two 9x9-inch pans and only added nuts to one of the pans so that the other was nut free. They turned out great, just like my childhood memories. The edges were slightly crisp and the insides were moist and chewy.
Thanks for the recipe, mom!
Person - Mom