Coffee Squares

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound light brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm black coffee
• 1 tsp salt (a dash is more than enough)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 (12 ounce) bag chocolate chips
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 1 tsp baking powder (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Beat brown sugar, oil, and eggs together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Stir flour, coffee, salt, baking soda, and vanilla extract into creamed sugar mixture until batter is just mixed. Fold in chocolate chips  and spread batter into the prepared baking dish. (see note)
3. Bake in the preheated oven until edges start to crisp and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, Typically 20 to 25 minutes.

NOTES

• Instead of folding in the chocolate chips you could just cover the top so they melt all over it.
• Instead of grease you can line the baking dish with parchment paper so it doesn't stick, lifts out easier and cuts easier.  You also don't have to wash the dish when you're done.
• The cinnamon is suggested for an added flavor but not all recipes use it.  My mother does not.
• The baking powder is also optional.  If you prefer a more dense "bar" you would leave it out.  If you want a more light and airy cake texture then you would include it. My mother does not use it in hers.