Polka Dot Squares

Recipe Title: Polka Dot Squares
Page Number: 42
Cookbook Title: Perfect Endings: Chocolate Dessert and Beverage Cook Book
Publisher: Nestle's
Year Published: 1962
ISBN #: Library of Congress Catalog Number 62-19144

Background:

Bar cookies bring back happy memories of my childhood. My brother and I joke with our mom that growing up, we thought all cookies were square. Today I needed a quick recipe for a dessert to bring to my church tomorrow to donate for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, and bars fit the bill. Paging through the cookbook, this recipe looked good to me--I actually had all the ingredients and it could be made all in one step. There's no picture of the recipe, so it is a bit of a gamble. We'll see how it goes!

Recipe:

Prep time: approximately 20 minutes

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Melt in large sauce pan (I used the microwave)

• 2/3 c. butter or shortening

Stir in

• 2 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar

Remove from heat and cool approximately 10 minutes (I didn't wait this long--you just need to make sure it's cool enough not to cook the eggs added in the next step)

Sift together and set aside (I dumped them in a bowl and used a whisk to combine)

• 2 2/3 c. sifted flour
• 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Add to cooled sugar mixture and beat until smooth

• 3 eggs

Add and mix well:

• Flour mixture
• 1 c. nuts, chopped (I used hazelnuts)
• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Spread in greased 15" x 10" x 1" pan. Bake at 400°F for 18 minutes. Cool. Cut into 2" squares.

Yield: approximately 36 bars

Alterations/Results/Impressions: I actually didn't alter the recipe (note the surprise in my voice). Hazelnuts are probably a bit strange to use (pecans or walnuts are more typical for recipes in my region), but I had half a pack left from another recipe so that's what I used. Results? It's pretty much the "blonde brownies" my mom made us as kids. Good, yes, but nothing really different. Chewy and caramel flavored, with melty chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts. Would I make again? It's definitely a good recipe in a pinch, so maybe...but I have all of these other cookbooks to try out first!