Blondies

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon molasses
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)


Grease a 9 x 9-inch pan with butter and dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350.

Cream the butter and eggs together. Beat in the sugar, molasses, and vanilla until well blended.

Measure the flour, salt and baking soda and then sift together into the butter mixture. Mix the batter gently until well combined and no trace of the dry ingredients remains. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. If desired, stir in the pecans.

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking pan and bake for 25 minutes or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the pan comes out clean or with only a few crumbs, not batter, on it.

Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for 1 hour. Cut just before serving.

Makes 12 to 16 bars.