Pistachio Chip Cookie Bars

I'm not a cookie baker. I would always rather bake a cake (and eat the cake too!).

But bars are different than cookies, sort of like brownies or blondies.
You can bake them in a square cake pan and pretend they are little pieces of cake.

I received a big bag of pistachios for the holidays, so decided to make a sweet salty cookie bar, sort of like a blondie.

I know I shouldn't bake because the little voice in my head keeps reminding me:
Stacey........do not make these, because you need to lose 7 lbs before spring break and you know you will eat 2 of these at 11 pm just before bed.............

Yeah, yeah. Be quiet little voice. I made them for my husband anyway. He can afford to eat 2 before bed.

Why don't men gain weight? It's not fair.

Chocolate Chip Pistachio Bars (blondies, cookies, whatever)

1 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup toasted pistachios

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line an 8 x 8 square brownie pan with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.

Stir in flour and salt, then the chocolate chips, and nuts.

Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake for about 23 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only few moist crumbs attached and the top is a light golden brown. It's better to take them out of the oven a little undone, they will continue to cook when they cool.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack before slicing.

Icing is optional. I make my icing by adding a tablespoon of whole milk to a cup of confectioner's sugar. Whisk with a fork, then pour on the warm blondies.

This is gilding the lily.

We can diet after the holidays.

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