Happy Birthday, Recipe Redux!

 

Our nutrition professionals belong to a great group of nutrition specialists who blog at least monthly.  This group is officially one year old—and to celebrate—we are all posting small bite dessert recipes.  Small desserts are all the rage in restaurants now—dessert shooters may be a term you have seen.  They are small tastes of sweet items that will not ruin a healthy diet (unless you have numerous small bites!).  I am including a new recipe that was in the Penzey’s Spice catalog this summer.  A friend of mine brought them into work.  They were yummy! I changed them up a little, because I need chocolate with my sweet bite!  Give this recipe a try!  Also check out more wonderful recipes that other nutrition professionals have shared!

 

Naughty Bars

Recipe from Monica for Penzey’s Spices, Summer 2012

Tweaked by Cindy Brison

 

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter (1 cup)
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1⁄4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Package Milk Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch pan with butter and set side. In a large microwave-safe glass bowl, melt the butter on high for 30 seconds (or until butter is almost completely melted), covering the bowl with a paper towel. Using a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula, mix in the brown sugar and stir until completely mixed. Add the baking powder, salt and VANILLA and mix well. Gradually add the flour and mix well—the batter will be stiff. Whisk the eggs well in a small bowl, and then add to the batter, mixing well one last time.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan (a spatula works well for this) and bake until golden around the edges and the center is still soft, about 30 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE! Remove from oven and sprinkle the ENTIRE package of chocolate chips on the top of the bars.  Allow to melt for a few minutes, and then spread carefully with a spatula.  Let cool completely before cutting into 1-inch squares. They go together quickly and there are NEVER any leftover!

Serves: 15