Chocolate Pecan Brown Sugar Shortbread Bars

By Suzanne Jacobus, Resident since 2013

www.DanvilleLivingCA.com

With Christmas fast approaching it is a time for entertaining and festive holiday parties. This is a quick, simple, and delicious recipe to make and take as a hostess gift. I like to package them in little cellophane bags tied with colorful ribbon.

Chocolate Pecan Brown Sugar Shortbread Bars Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter ( 2 sticks ) cut in small pieces

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup brown sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt ( I use sea salt )

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 9 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup chopped pecans ( you can also use walnuts )

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Spray paper with nonstick spray.

• Cream the butter and sugar in a food processor.

• Add vanilla.

• Add the flour and pulse on and off until the mixture looks like corn meal. Press into prepared pan.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned.

• Immediately after taking out of the oven, pour chocolate chips over. Spread with a long spatula. (If the chocolate sticks to the spatula spray it with nonstick spray.)

• Immediately sprinkle nuts over chocolate.

• Allow chocolate to cool completely before slicing.

Yield: 2 dozen or more depending on how small you slice bars.

Note: I have also made 1 ½ of this recipe and baked on a cookie sheet for a larger portion.

Enjoy!

Suzanne Jacobus