Congo Squares

This is another family favorite, shared with us by Aunt Betty and enjoyed for many years now. And my grandmother requested this for her 85th birthday, so don’t even think about complaining that they aren’t nutritious enough!

It’s difficult to describe – something like cookies in a brownie form with chocolate and nuts and all sorts of yumminess mixed in, melt-in-your-mouth style!

Here are the ingredients you will need.

First prepare the pan – grease and flour it!

We also like to chop the nuts early so they will have a few minutes to get toasted in the oven. It really brings out the flavor.

Next, melt shortening (or butter) and stir in brown sugar.

Then the dry ingredients need to be mixed – flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar/shortening mixture (which has been cooling from its sauna to the stove) with eggs.

Then mix in the dry ingredients too.

Warning: the batter will be very stiff!

Finally, add in the fun stuff – vanilla, chocolate chips, and nuts!

And then just spread the congo squares into a pan, just like you would brownies.

After their time in the oven, they come out looking like this!

The recipe instructed us to cut when they were warm.

Oh baby! These are delicious! You cannot eat just one!

(I think the record was when my sister was about 8 and ate like 10 in a row. We recommend using a little more self-control than that.)

Congo Squares

⅔ cup shortening

2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

2 ½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

3 eggs, beaten

1 T. vanilla extract

2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts, toasted

1. In a saucepan, melt shortening over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Cool slightly.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add gradually with eggs to shortening mixture.
3. Stir in vanilla, chips, and nuts. (Batter will be very stiff.)
4. Spread in a greased and floured 12x9x2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
5. Cut into squares while warm. Makes about 4 dozen bars.