Chocolate Chunk Blondies

 Another recipe from Ina Garten.  These basically are the same thing as regular chocolate chip cookies just made into bars and called blondies, but hey they are delicious anyways!  I make cookies way to often in my house.  It is just so quick and easy to throw together chocolate chip cookie dough.  So by doing something simple like changing it into bars everyone in my house feels they are eating something a bit different than our usual cookie.  


 Chocolate Chunk Blondies

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/4 pounds semisweet chocolate chunks (or chips)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8 x 12 x 2 inch baking pan.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well, scraping down the bowl. In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and with the mixer still on low, slowly add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Fold the walnuts and chocolate chunks in with a rubber spatula.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Don't overbake! A toothpick may not come out completely clean. Cool completely in the pan and then cut into bars.